‘Quad’ leaders pledge new cooperation on China, COVID-19, climate

US, India, Japan and Australia plot vaccine drive for Indo-Pacific, seek to counter China’s influence, and plan an in-person summit.

Leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia, convened by US President Joe Biden in a first virtual summit of the ‘Quad’ group of countries, pledged to work together to counter China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific and cooperate on COVID-19 and climate. The leaders discussed challenges posed by China and focused on pressing global crises including climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. “Over the course of the meeting, a sense of optimism for the future, despite the hard times we’re in, was on full display,” Sullivan told reporters at the White House afterwards.