During a recent Quad summit in Wilmington, Delaware, President Joe Biden was overheard on a hot mic expressing concerns about China’s aggressive behavior in the region. Speaking to leaders from Australia, India, and Japan, Biden stated that China is “testing us all across the region,” referencing tensions in the South China Sea, East China Sea, South Asia, and the Taiwan Straits. His candid remarks may undermine the carefully crafted joint statement from the summit, which notably avoided naming China directly.
Biden remarked that while Chinese President Xi Jinping is preoccupied with domestic economic challenges, he is also seeking to create “diplomatic space” to further China’s interests. Despite these concerns, Biden emphasized recent US efforts to ease tensions, including a call with Xi in April, asserting that these efforts are crucial to preventing conflict.
The joint declaration issued after the summit expressed concern over regional tensions without explicitly mentioning China. It condemned “coercive and intimidating maneuvers” in the South China Sea but refrained from attributing these actions to any specific nation. The leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region and acknowledged ongoing geopolitical challenges.
As the US heads towards a presidential election, with former President Donald Trump challenging Biden’s legacy, questions loom over the future of the Quad. In response, Biden assured that the coalition would endure beyond the November elections. “While challenges will come, the world will change because the Quad is here to stay,” he stated, a sentiment echoed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will host next year’s summit in India.
Biden also infused personal elements into the summit, hosting private meetings at his childhood home and discussing his Cancer Moonshot initiative, which focuses on combating cervical cancer—an issue close to his heart following the death of his son, Beau. The White House emphasized that the summit reflected Biden’s commitment to strengthening international alliances, even amid concerns about the potential implications of a Trump presidency.
