At home, Biden discusses China with Japanese, Australian and Indian leaders

Joe Biden hosted the leaders of Japan, Australia and India at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday to discuss issues related to China’s power.

The American president, who will leave the White House next January, received one-on-one the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida after having welcomed the head of the Australian government Anthony Albanese the day before.

Although the media did not have access to these meetings, the White House shared via press releases the topics discussed, first and foremost China.

US President Joe Biden welcomes Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Wilmington, Delaware on September 21, 2024 (AFP/Brendan SMIALOWSKI)

According to the texts, Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of Australia and Japan about “their shared concerns about China’s authoritarian and destabilizing behavior, including in the South China Sea.”

The leaders also expressed support for “maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” a reference to tensions over the island, which China considers an integral part of its territory.

– “Unavoidable” –

The White House did not immediately release a transcript of the talks between the US president and Narendra Modi.

This quadrilateral diplomatic format, which began in response to the devastating tsunami of 2004, took a more institutional turn in 2007, but subsequently experienced ups and downs, and was more or less surviving when Joe Biden arrived at the White House.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s motorcade arrives at the home of US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21, 2024 (AFP/Brendan SMIALOWSKI)

The latter wanted to make it, according to the American executive, an “essential format for years” in a highly strategic region.

This has led him to weave or re-weave a tight network of alliances in Asia – even if it means upsetting France, for example, by taking away a huge submarine contract with Australia.

In addition to hosting the three leaders one by one at his family home about 100 miles from Washington, Biden chose his old high school to host a joint working meeting and dinner on Saturday.

– Harris absent –

The four leaders are expected to announce joint coast guard exercises for the first time.

The “Quad”, as the group is called, is also expected to pledge a joint commitment to the fight against cervical cancer.

US President Joe Biden in Claymont, Delaware, on September 20, 2024 (AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

This summit opens a week of intense diplomatic activity for the American president, at a time when all of the United States’ allies are waiting for the outcome of the presidential election on November 5.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who was propelled as the Democratic candidate for the White House when Joe Biden gave up running for a second term in July, is not present.

And Joe Biden, for his diplomatic farewell, will make his last major speech next week at the United Nations in New York. He will also receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.

© 2024 AFP

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