PM to join historic Quad talks, but government insists move is ‘not about China’

Scott Morrison is set to hold his first substantive meeting with Joe Biden in a discussion that is set to bring our region to a ‘whole new level’.

Scott Morrison is set to hold his first substantive meeting with US President Joe Biden in a historic four-way virtual sit-down on the Indo-Pacific, but the government insists the move is “not about China”.

The Prime Minister will sit down for a virtual summit with US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday.

It will be the first time talks between the Quad – a strategic alliance between the four countries – will be held by its members’ leaders.

Mr Morrison described the Quad as “an anchor of peace and stability” in the region which had moved to “a whole new level”.

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Scott Morrison says the Quad alliance has moved to a ‘whole new level’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

US President Joe Biden will join the historic four-way talks. Picture: Mandel Ngan / AFP

He said elevating Quad discussions to the leadership level was the “first thing” he discussed with Mr Biden after winning the November election.

“The Indo-Pacific is our world. This is where Australia lives and our security, our peace and stability that all Australians rely on,” he said.

“What the Quad is about is ensuring an open, independent, sovereign Indo-Pacific that enables all countries and nations within the Indo-Pacific to engage with each other.

“I was so pleased that other leaders are so enthusiastic about the program, and President Biden is taking this to another level.”

The group will discuss climate change and COVID-19 vaccine supplies in the region as well as maritime security.

With China embroiled in disputes with all four Quad members over the past year, and its increasingly aggressive presence in the Indo-Pacific, there was speculation the elevation was aimed at Beijing.

But Trade Minister Dan Tehan played down that claim on Wednesday.

“This isn’t about China, this is about us engaging with like-minded liberal democracies to address important issues in the Indo-Pacific,” he told Sky News.

China has been embroiled in stoushes with all four Quad members over the past year, including a trade war launched by former US president Donald Trump. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

Beijing has taken an increasingly expansive stance in the Indo-Pacific. Picture: Chandan Khanna / AFP

“We want to make sure that all countries in the Indo-Pacific can enjoy what a free and open Indo-Pacific can lead to.”

After a meeting of the countries’ foreign ministers in February, Japan said the group had “concurred to strongly oppose unilateral and forceful attempts to change the status quo in the context of the East and South China Sea”.

It comes amid a protracted trade stoush between Beijing and Canberra, seemingly sparked by Australia’s push for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

Mr Tehan has sought to re-establish dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, but admitted his overtures had been met with silence from Beijing.

Washington has been embroiled in a trade war of its own with Beijing under former US president Donald Trump, who took a hardline position to China.

Indian and Chinese troops have also been involved in skirmishes on the pair’s border since May 2020.