Biden, Quad leaders discuss maritime security amid tensions with China
5 Min Read
Aside from the South China Sea maritime issues, the four leaders are expected to discuss health security, cancer treatment, technology, and infrastructure policies.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive for their meeting during the Quad leaders summit in Tokyo on May 21, 2024. (AFP)
US President Joe Biden is set to host Quad Leaders summit at his Delaware home this weekend, where he will be discussing maritime security measures with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan amid rising maritime tensions with China.
US officials told Reuters that the leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing tensions between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea over disputed territory.
The leaders' primary concern is aiming to boost security cooperation in the Indian Ocean while combatting illegal fishing vessels operating in the Indo-Pacific waters, which are mainly Chinese.
Their joint statement seeks to include stronger language compared to previous discussions about the South China Sea and rising tensions with the DPRK, officials said.
Upcoming power shifts
The end of Biden's term is approaching, with the upcoming presidential elections set to take place on November 5.
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican counterpart Donald Trump are battling over will take over the presidency from Biden, with Trump vowing to uphold the confrontational approach with China and raising scepticism about traditional US alliances.
The US is not the only member of the Quad to undergo a power shift. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to step down this month while Australia is set to for federal elections next year.
The Quad's main topics of discussion, Biden to meet with Chinese president
"You'll see a number of different signs throughout this meeting and the deliverables that the Quad is a bipartisan institution that is here to stay," a senior US official said after Biden held a one-on-one meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Friday evening.
Aside from the maritime issues, the four leaders are expected to discuss health security, cancer treatment, technology, and infrastructure policies.
The South China Sea for China and other regional countries like the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with some like the Philippines upping military cooperation with the US in order to deter China, as Washington continues to militarize the region, with Taiwan being a prime example.
Biden has pledged to counter China without igniting conflict. The US president is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the near future.
However, due to the rising tensions and escalation in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, Biden's focus has shifted from focusing on US relations with China.
Xi has denounced the Quad alliance, calling it a group made to isolate China and start conflict.
"It's no secret that this is a partnership that, although it is not against China, seeks to offer alternatives to China," a senior Biden administration official said.
Chinese embassy slams UK-US statement as 'groundless accusations'
The Chinese embassy in the UK has issued a sharp response to a joint statement by the UK and the US, which criticized China's actions regarding Taiwan, the South China Sea, and its position on the Ukraine war. A spokesperson from the embassy strongly condemned the joint statement, calling it an interference in China's internal affairs and a misrepresentation of facts.
"The so-called joint statement by the UK and the US makes groundless accusations against China and interferes in China's internal affairs. China strongly deplores and firmly rejects this," the spokesperson stated.
Addressing disputes in the South China Sea, the embassy claimed China’s sovereignty over the region and criticized external involvement. "China has indisputable territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. China's normal patrol and law enforcement in the waters under its jurisdiction is in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he stated.
The embassy also accused Philippine vessels of violating regional agreements and warned the UK and the US to avoid escalating tensions. "As non-regional countries, the UK and the US should respect the facts and stop any behavior that provokes confrontation."
The statement further touched on the war in Ukraine, where the embassy refuted allegations that China was supporting Russia's defense efforts. "As for the Ukrainian issue, China has always maintained an objective and fair position, actively promoted peace talks, and pushed for a political solution," the spokesperson noted. "We firmly oppose the relevant countries' constant propagation of disinformation that China supports Russia's defense industry."
The embassy concluded by urging the UK and the US to stop inflaming the situation, stating, "We urge the UK and the US to stop adding fuel to the fire and shifting the blame."
This statement comes amid heightened tensions between China and Western nations over multiple geopolitical issues, signaling an ongoing diplomatic standoff.
