China mocks Quad ahead of summit: 'US' cannon fodder'

CHINESE daily Global Times on Friday (24) slammed the Quad summit which was due to be held in Washington DC, the US, the same day citing Chinese analysts who warned that if members like India, Japan and Australia “went too far in following the US strategy of containing China, they will become cannon fodder as China will resolutely safeguard its interests”.

The leaders of the four member nations, including Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, are currently in the US to take part in the first-ever in-person summit of the Quad which analysts say is aimed at containing Beijing’s ambitions.

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China has been critical of the Quad and said last week that the platform has no future. The state-backed daily, which is known for its strong takes on China’s opponents, said in the piece, “The Quad summit, scheduled to take place on Friday, which will likely mention marine security concerns for the purpose of containing China and demonstrate that the Indo-Pacific is the current strategic center of the US, was at the stage of forging verbal consensus rather than signing substantial deals, Chinese analysts said on Thursday, noting that US typical practice of abandoning its allies like dumping trash in front of its interests will make Quad another NATO which is existing only in name.”

‘How much help India will get from US?’

The Chinese daily spoke separately about the Quad members, including India. It said India has been active in Quad and hopes to use the US, Japan and Australia to contain China. It then questioned the ploy saying, “But the US was more likely to adopt an “Asians versus Asians” strategy, indicating it will instigate some Asian countries to confront other Asian countries rather than engaging itself in it, analysts said, noting that India is not sure how much help it can get from the US if there is a serious conflict between China and India”.

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It also said citing analysts that the security pact formed between the US, UK and Australia called AUKUS which was formed recently will cast a shadow over the Quad summit and eventually dilute the members, especially Japan and India and make the summit less effective.