The US, Japan, India and Australia have expressed concern over tensions in the South China Sea

President of the United States, Joe BidenHe met the leaders Japan, India and Australia Ahead of a farewell summit in their hometown of Delaware on Saturday to discuss the challenges that rising Chinese rule poses to their countries.

Biden told his Indo-Pacific allies that he believed in China's growing military assertiveness An attempt to test the region At a tumultuous time for Beijing.

Biden's remarks were captured at an open microphone after he and other leaders of the so-called Quad gave opening remarks to reporters. He said his administration sees Beijing's actions as “a change in tactics, not a change in strategy.”

China continues to struggle to revive its economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic and has seen a prolonged slowdown in industrial activity and asset prices, while Beijing faces pressure to boost spending to stimulate demand.

“China continues to be aggressivetests all of us in the region, and that's true in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia and the Taiwan Strait,” he said. “At least from our perspective, (Chinese President) Xi Jinping should focus on domestic economic challenges, China's We believe he is also looking to reduce tensions in diplomatic relations. China's interests must be aggressively pursued.

The leaders said after Saturday's summit Beijing is “deeply concerned” about tensions in the South and East China Seas, though it avoids direct reference to Beijing.

Conversations in Wilmington near the end of Biden's only presidency reflect the importance the president placed on the so-called team. “Quad” As a counterweight to Beijing.

In private, Biden welcomed the prime minister Fumio Kishida and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Saturday at his townhouse for private one-on-one meetings. On Friday night he welcomed the Australian Prime Minister there. Anthony Albanese.

Media is not allowed in the meetings. Biden posted photos on social media of himself with Albanese and Kishida in the wood-paneled living room of his home, showing them a view of the lake from the terrace.

White House press releases of Biden's meetings with the Australian and Japanese leaders “shared their concerns about the coercive and disruptive activities of the People's Republic of China, including… South China Sea”.

Both statements supported the leaders' “maintenance of peace and stability Taiwan Strait“Referring to tensions over Taiwan, an autonomous democracy that China claims as its territory, it will be reunified by force if necessary.

There was no immediate word on Modi's talks with Biden.

Later Saturday, the leaders will travel to Biden's former high school in Wilmington for a formal four-way summit, followed by an event for their initiative. “Cancer Moonshot” Then dinner.

Officials said Kishida, like Biden, is set to leave the post and will meet Modi separately on Saturday.

Spokesman for the White House National Security Council, John KirbyHe said China would be high on the summit's agenda amid tensions with Beijing, particularly over the ongoing clashes between Chinese and Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea.

After withdrawing from the US presidential election in November and handing over control of the campaign, Biden is trying to establish his legacy. Kamala Harris, US officials, who were not invited to the summit, said there would be “conclusions” from the meeting.

Among them A Expanded cooperation in maritime security and the first joint Coast Guard exercises between the four countries, including an encounter aboard a US ship.

Leaders plan joint coastal defense operations in which Australian, Japanese and Indian personnel spend time aboard a U.S. ship. According to officials, the countries also plan to increase military logistics cooperation.

The summit comes ahead of a highly contested US presidential election with Harris and the former Republican president Donald Trump (who spent his last presidency reducing America's commitment abroad) was built.

Quad team Starting from 2007But the original organizer of the leaders' summits pushed them hard as part of an emphasis on international alliances after years of isolation by Biden and Trump.

U.S. officials have downplayed any danger to the group regardless of who ends up in the Oval Office in January 2025.

“We are confident that the quad will hold up,” said a senior executive.

For America, Australia and Japan, Quad is also A A long-standing friendship with India. New Delhi has historically asserted its status as a superpower when it comes to superpower disputes.

(With information from AFP, Reuters and AP)