Wary China on ‘Quad’ bloc watch after officials from US, Japan, India and Australia meet on Asean sidelines

Beijing cautioned on Monday against an alliance between the United States and three of its regional allies after officials from the four countries met for the first time in Manila, raising prospects for a bloc to counter China’s strategic expansion.

In response to Sunday’s meeting of officials from the US, India, Australia and Japan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said regional cooperation should neither be politicised nor exclusionary.

The weekend meeting was the first for the participants since the concept of a four-way alliance was raised by Japan a decade ago.

Observers said the gathering again highlighted deep suspicion and unease among China’s neighbours over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitions for regional dominance. It also underscored growing regional competition between Beijing and Washington, they said.

The meeting comes as the US appears to be shifting strategic focus, with US President Donald Trump using the term “Indo-Pacific” to define the region during his first trip to Asia. The term underlines Washington’s diplomatic and security commitment to a broader region than the Asia-Pacific and highlights the importance of India in the face of a stronger, assertive China.