US President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic during the recent QUAD summit, making candid remarks about China’s aggressive behavior and its impact on international relations. The comments, reported by news agency PTI, were made as a pool of reporters were leaving the summit venue.
Candid Remarks on China
Biden expressed concern that Chinese President Xi Jinping is “looking to buy himself some diplomatic space” to further China’s interests. He noted that China continues to “behave aggressively, testing us all across the region on several fronts, including economic and technology issues.” The President emphasized that such behavior necessitates “intense diplomacy in times of intense competition.”
These remarks were made during the QUAD summit, which included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Administration Response
A senior official from the US administration attempted to downplay the significance of Biden’s comments. The official stated that the sentiments expressed were consistent with the US’s longstanding position regarding China. “I don’t think it’ll be much of a surprise that our inside voice matches our outside voice,” the official noted.
The official also clarified that the QUAD nations are not solely focused on China, highlighting that there were multiple topics on the agenda. “It’s an Indo-Pacific convening… China is a major country in the Indo-Pacific, but there were a number of other topics discussed,” the official explained.
Regional Concerns
The QUAD nations have consistently emphasized their commitment to maintaining a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of China’s military assertiveness in the South China Sea. China has engaged in territorial disputes in both the South and East China Seas and has proposed a controversial “nine-dash-line” claim to sovereignty over various contested areas.
Sources By Agencies
