Biden’s Hot-Mic Moment at Quad Summit: China ‘Behaving Aggressively, Testing Us All’
During the Quad summit on Saturday, US President Joe Biden was caught in a hot-mic moment, expressing concerns over China’s aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing leaders from India, Japan, and Australia, Biden stated that China is “testing” several countries on multiple fronts, including economic and technological issues.
Biden highlighted that Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely seeking to focus on domestic economic challenges while buying diplomatic space to further China’s interests. The US president’s remarks come as Quad nations continue their diplomatic efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific amidst growing tensions with China.
A senior US official downplayed the incident, noting that the comments reflect longstanding US positions. With ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, the Quad has emphasized that its goal is to ensure stability in the region, not to contain China’s rise.