When asked to what extent China will be a focus of the Quad Summit, Kirby stated, “I think it’ll certainly be high on the agenda…reports Asian Lite News
China will certainly be “high on the agenda” at the Quad Summit set to be hosted by US President Joe Biden in Delaware’s Wilmington on September 21, US National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby on Wednesday.
While addressing a press briefing, Kirby stressed that it would be irresponsible if the Quad leaders do not hold talks about the challenges that exist in the region caused by China.
When asked to what extent China will be a focus of the Quad Summit, Kirby stated, “I think it’ll certainly be high on the agenda. I mean, there’s not an opportunity when you get together with these particular leaders, the Indo-Pacific, Quad, where you, in fact, it would be irresponsible if they didn’t talk about the challenges that still exist in the region caused by aggressive PRC military action for instance, unfair trade practices, tensions over the Taiwan Strait. I have no doubt that all those issues will come up.”
Biden is set to host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders summit in Delaware on September 21 and is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. It is the first time Biden will host foreign leaders in his hometown.
When asked whether Quad nations view China as a threat to the Indo-Pacific region, John Kirby said, “I think you’d have to talk to the leaders about their particular view of the PRC. But, I think we all have a common understanding about the challenges that the PRC is posing, but each of them is a sovereign country; they get to decide for themselves what their relationship is going to be with the PRC and how that looks; each of them has a different relationship with the PRC, including us.”
John Kirby said that Biden will meet Quad leaders individually and the four together in a larger plenary session where they will discuss expanding cooperation on various critically important issues.
Speaking about the upcoming Quad Summit, he said, “The President will meet individually with each of them, and then we’ll also gather together in a larger plenary session where they will discuss expanding cooperation across a range of critically important issues. We believe that you’ll see coming out of this summit that the Quad is more strategically aligned and more relevant than ever before.”
“I think you can expect a robust agenda aimed at delivering concrete benefits to the people of the region as they all identify priorities such as health, security, natural disaster response, maritime security, quality infrastructure, critical and emerging technologies, climate and clean energy, and cybersecurity. You’ll also see some announcements that demonstrate our intention to make sure that this special partnership the Quad endures and in fact thrives over the long term. We’ll have more details, of course to share on the specific deliverables as we get a little closer to the weekend,” he added.
Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries–Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. It is pertinent to note that in recent years, Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times, and Quad governments continue to meet and coordinate at all levels. (ANI)
‘Quad Summit will be more relevant than ever before’
The Quad Summit set to be hosted by US President Joe Biden for the first time in Delaware’s Wilmington will be more strategically aligned and relevant than ever before, said US National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby on Wednesday.
A robust agenda can be expected aimed at delivering concrete benefits to the people of the region, said Kirby ahead of mega summit.
Kirby, while addressing a press briefing, said that the President looks forward to showing them a place in a community that has shaped him as a public servant and the leader that he has become.
John Kirby said that Biden will meet Quad leaders–Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida individually and the four together in a larger plenary session where they will discuss expanding cooperation on various critically important issues.
Speaking about the upcoming Quad Summit set to be held on September 21, Kirby said, “This weekend as Karine noted in Wilmington, Delaware, the President will host the leaders of Japan, Australia and India for the 4th Annual Quad Leaders Summit. Over the last three-plus years, President Biden has made it a priority to invest in rebuilding our network of alliances and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. And in the process of doing that, he has strengthened not only existing relationships, but he’s helped forge new ones altogether. So, think about AUKUS, for instance, or the trilateral Camp David Summit with Japan and South Korea or the first-ever US Japan Philippines Leader Summit in April, and of course, the Indo-Pacific Quad.”
He noted that President Joe Biden elevated the Quad to the leader level in 2021 as he understood that four leading Indo-Pacific democracies that share priorities, mutual interests and strong bonds of friendship between the people would make the region safer and prosperous.
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