Biden secretly told Quad leaders, ‘China is testing us all,’ and everyone heard it on hot mic – China

During the Quad summit, during which US President Joe Biden met with the leaders of India, Japan and Australia, Biden told the Quad leaders in a booming microphone that China is testing us. His statement showed the seriousness of the US attitude towards the threat from China.

Biden’s opening remarks were recorded on a thermal microphone as reporters left the venue of the Quad leaders’ summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

What did Biden say to China?

“We believe Xi wants to focus on domestic economic challenges and reduce instability in China, which will test all of us across the region in many ways, including economic and technological issues,” Biden said during the meeting. “We believe fierce competition requires fierce diplomacy.”

Also read: “After the November elections, is the Quad still alive?” Biden gives this answer by placing his hand on PM Modi’s shoulder

The US president also said, “I think President Xi Jinping of China wants to buy himself some diplomatic space to aggressively pursue China’s interests.” Biden’s statement is important because China is embroiled in ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and international tribunals have ruled that its claims have no legal basis.

China claims the entire South China Sea, while other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines have counterclaims. At the summit, Biden told the Quad leaders that Xi wanted to focus on domestic economic challenges and reduce unrest in China.

Also read: Japan PM Kishida says at Quad summit: ‘Free and open Indo-Pacific requires strong commitment’

White House response to hot mic blunder

The White House later tried to downplay the hot-mic mistake. “I don’t think there was a lot of elaboration on that,” the official said. “It’s consistent with what has been said before, and I don’t think it’s too surprising that our inner voice is different than our outer voice. I don’t think it’s surprising that China is on the agenda.”