In a pointed display of diplomatic unity, the ambassadors of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) nations – the United States, Australia, India, and Japan – convened in Beijing on Tuesday, just as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire exercises during its large-scale military drills around Taiwan.
“The Quad is a force for good, working to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. It is always great to meet with the Quad Ambassadors here in Beijing,” said US Ambassador to China David Perdue in a social media post along with a group photo.
Perdue, a businessman and former senator from Georgia appointed earlier this year by US President Donald Trump to manage the most delicate bilateral relationship, added that relations among the four countries “continue to be strong”.
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The Quad is an informal strategic forum aimed at promoting a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, according to its members.
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People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
Since 2021, the bloc has held leader-level summits and focused on issues such as maritime security, infrastructure development and countering what it calls coercive actions. While not a formal military alliance, the grouping is widely seen as a counterweight to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
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