Quad leaders will talk Covid-19 vaccines, 5G as well as China: US officials

Washington plays down Beijing focus for agenda of first meeting of government heads in informal alliance

Friday’s discussion will also cover shared trade concerns of US, Japan, India and Australia

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US President Joe Biden will meet with leaders from Japan, India and Australia in the highest-level talks to date among the informal grouping known as the Quad. Photo: TNS

Published: 6:00pm, 12 Mar 2021Updated: 6:00pm, 12 Mar 2021

Friday’s summit of four leading Asia-Pacific democracies will announce a cooperative approach to 5G and other global technology standards, as well as a pipeline for delivering Covid-19 vaccines to Southeast Asia. Shared trade and other China-related concerns will also be discussed, according to senior officials in the Joe Biden administration.

“I believe leaders tomorrow will be open about some of the concerns they have,” said one of the officials, who briefed reporters late on Thursday, on condition they would not be named. “I believe there will be honest, open discussions about China’s role on the global stage.”

The US officials appeared keen to stress that the first summit of the Quad – shorthand for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an informal strategic forum comprising the United States, Japan, India and Australia – would not focus singularly on China.

But many of the agenda items appeared closely related. One of the “deliverables” expected from the meeting, for example, is an “historic” programme to expand production, financing and logistical support for vaccines in Southeast Asia. But Beijing is already way out in front with its “vaccine diplomacy” programme in several neighbouring countries, including Pakistan and the Philippines.

Administration officials also sought to walk a fine political line, touting efforts to help people in the Indo-Pacific region even as they stressed that US citizens came first. “Our focus here is on ensuring that Americans have access to safe and effective vaccines,” another official said. “If we have a surplus, we’ll share it with the rest of the world. But right now we’re really focused on vaccinating here at home.”

In addition to the technology working group and a second on climate change, the 90-minute summit was expected to include cybersecurity discussions, the officials said. This is also closely linked to China. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a massive, aggressive attack on its email servers that it said was likely sponsored by the Chinese government. Beijing has denied the allegations.