China Rejects Quad's Claims of Destabilizing Activities in East and South China Seas

China Responds to Quad Meeting on East and South China Seas

China has responded to a meeting between Quad foreign ministers on Tuesday, during which they claimed that China seeks to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China believes that cooperation between countries should not target any third party.

Mao 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. He noted that China's activities in relevant waters are lawful, legitimate, and completely justified.

The Quad group, consisting of the US, Japan, India, and Australia, met in Washington, DC on Tuesday to reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening a so-called "Free and Open Indo Pacific." Their joint statement emphasized the importance of international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains, including the maritime domain, for the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

While the joint statement did not single out any country, some Western media have characterized the meeting as "China-focused." A Reuters report suggested that the wording of the statement, which strongly opposes any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion, is an apparent reference to China's claim to sovereignty over Taiwan.

The Quad group was established in 2007 to bring together countries that had worked together in response to the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. However, the Associated Press refers to the Quad as "a major component of the American strategy to counter China's growing assertiveness and vast territorial claims in the region."

Chinese experts believe that the wording in the statement and the omission of China in the text reflect internal differences among the Quad grouping. They also believe that other members are adjusting their views of the Quad's anti-China positioning, especially as India and Australia are rebalancing their foreign policies and strengthening ties with China.

While the Quad mechanism publicly champions the goal of building a 'free and open Indo-Pacific,' its actual actions involve creating tension, forming cliques, and fostering exclusivity, which runs counter to the region's pursuit of peace and development. The Quad mechanism aligns closely with the rollout of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and is likely to be retained under the new US administration. However, at its core, Quad remains a coalition with diverging interests, particularly on China-related issues. Each member country has its own priorities and is unlikely to fully align its interests with the US at the expense of its own national agenda.