In a rare display of diplomatic coordination, the ambassadors of the Quad nations – the United States, India, Australia, and Japan – convened a publicized meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. The gathering, confirmed by a post on X by U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, took place at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
Ambassador Perdue, in his social media post, underscored the Quad's role as "a force for good" in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He affirmed the strong and stable relations among the four countries. The meeting included India's Ambassador to China, Pradeep Kumar Rawat, along with his counterparts from the other Quad nations.
The significance of this meeting lies not only in its occurrence but also in its public nature, as such events are rarely held openly in China. The timing of the meeting is particularly noteworthy, unfolding amidst heightened regional tensions stemming from China's large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. These exercises have been widely interpreted as an intimidation tactic. According to the Japanese Embassy's post on X, the parties engaged in a frank discussion on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and reaffirmed that the four countries would continue to work closely together to achieve a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
China has consistently viewed the Quad with suspicion, perceiving it as a strategic bloc aimed at curbing its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Consequently, any visible demonstration of unity among Quad members attracts close scrutiny from Beijing. While China has yet to officially respond to this recent meeting, it has historically criticized the Quad, denouncing what it views as "group politics" and "bloc confrontation".
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, in response to a Quad foreign ministers' meeting earlier this year, asserted that cooperation between countries should not target any third party. She further stated that "Engaging in group politics and bloc confrontation will not bring lasting peace and security, and is not conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world as a whole".
Despite China's criticism, the Quad has steadily gained prominence as a partnership committed to regional stability, the rule of law, and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. The four nations have stressed that they aim to support peace, oppose threats to open sea routes, and work together on health, tech, and disaster aid. The Quad maintains that it is not a military alliance and is devoted to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The meeting of Quad ambassadors in Beijing serves as a clear signal of the group's intent to maintain an active presence and demonstrate unity, even amidst rising tensions in the region. The show of unity in Beijing sends a strong signal that the Quad is firm, keeps its structure, keeps its talks, and keeps its goals.
