On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a foreign ministers’ meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) in Washington, featuring representatives from the US, Australia, India, and Japan.
Although the official statement from the QUAD participants did not explicitly mention China, the underlying motive of the gathering was to bolster the United States’ confrontational posture towards Beijing.
This aggressive stance is part of a broader surge in imperialist militarism that appears to be escalating towards a global conflict.
Just less than two weeks before the QUAD meeting, the US, following the lead of Israel, conducted airstrikes against Iran, a move that has been perceived as a blatant act of aggression.
This incident is part of an extensive military campaign throughout the Middle East, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza.
Moreover, the US has been embroiled in a de facto war with Russia over the past three years, primarily centered around Ukraine.
During a recent NATO summit, European powers committed to expanding military spending at levels not seen since World War II, adhering to the demands set forth by the US.
In the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has intensified a longstanding military build-up targeting China, which the US continues to view as its primary adversary.
The rhetoric employed by US officials includes aggressive denunciations of Beijing, predictions of a potential war over Taiwan within a few years, and demands from allies in the Indo-Pacific to substantially increase their military expenditures.
The QUAD statement reiterated the typical litany of accusations against China that are used to rationalize Washington’s aggressive stance in the region.
The foreign ministers expressed serious concerns regarding situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea, condemning ‘dangerous and provocative actions’ in the latter, including the so-called ‘unsafe use of water cannons’ and challenges to ‘freedom of navigation.’
While these statements were clearly aimed at China, they represent a significant distortion of the reality on the ground.
For over a decade, the US has actively inflamed low-level territorial disputes in the South China Sea, intentionally transforming these disagreements into potential flashpoints for major conflict.
Provocative incursions by US and allied warships into waters claimed by China reflect a strategy designed to escalate tensions.
Collaborations with the Philippines, particularly under the far-right leadership of Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, have led to clashes with Chinese forces that could easily trigger broader regional instability.
The QUAD statement further condemned North Korea and its ballistic missile program, framing it as a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace.
Such declarations brim with hypocrisy, especially in light of the context wherein the QUAD leaders proclaimed their ‘commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.’
Washington’s military strikes on Iran are clearly unlawful, as is the ongoing US-sponsored and overseen Israeli military action against Palestinians, which constitutes some of the gravest war crimes since the 1930s.
Within the US, the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the Constitution represent an assault on democratic rights, a trend that is increasingly observed in other Western imperialist nations.
The frequent references to a ‘rules-based order’ in the Indo-Pacific merely signify the intent to maintain US hegemony against China’s growing influence.
Despite the QUAD’s unified front in its statements, President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy has stirred tensions among Washington’s military allies.
None of the QUAD countries have managed to obtain exemptions from the reciprocal tariffs set to be imposed on July 9, following a 90-day suspension.
Japan, facing economic challenges, is now confronted with a 24% tariff on its exports to the US, in addition to a 25% tariff on automotive products.
While Foreign Affairs Minister Takeshi Iwaya attended discussions with Rubio, Tokyo’s Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa was in Washington expressing discontent over the tariff framework, insisting it was ‘not something we can accept.’
The Australian Labor government finds itself in a precarious position following President Trump’s announcement of a review into the AUKUS military pact with the US and the UK.
This deal involves Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines from America.
Concerns regarding the potential cancellation of this deal and public US demands for Australia to significantly increase its military budget have triggered considerable unrest in ruling circles.
Intriguingly, the QUAD statement did not address the situations in Ukraine, Russia, or Iran, underscoring India’s delicate balancing act between strengthening military ties with the US and maintaining economic relations with Moscow.
Regardless of these complexities, Rubio emphasized the necessity to convert ‘meetings and gatherings where we talk about ideas and concepts into a vehicle for action.’
There has been enduring frustration among US and allied national-security officials regarding the QUAD.
They perceive it as a potential spearhead for anti-China initiatives, yet note that its meetings often result in limited concrete outcomes.
In its statement, the QUAD cited ‘maritime law enforcement cooperation through regional training initiatives, maritime legal dialogues, and Coast Guard cooperation.’
These previously announced initiatives may signal an increase in direct provocations by the US in the South China Sea territorial disputes.
The ‘Quad Ports of the Future Partnership’ is slated to launch in Mumbai later this year, aimed at establishing a network of ports for the QUAD countries, potentially also serving military operations.
Additionally, the statement revealed plans for a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network event later this year.
While portrayed as preparations for natural disasters, this initiative aims to ‘strengthen shared airlift capacity and leverage our collective logistics strengths,’ which possess military implications.
A focal point of the statement was ensuring the ‘security’ of supply chains and fostering development among QUAD members.
The statement expressed profound concern regarding the abrupt constriction and anticipated reliability of vital supply chains, particularly for critical minerals.
This reflects a direct concern about China’s dominance in the refining and processing of critical minerals essential for various modern technologies, including military hardware.
Estimates suggest that China controls about two-thirds of the production or refining of significant critical minerals.
Agreements to enhance collaboration on critical minerals among QUAD countries have been established previously, notably between the US and Australia, which is rich in mineral resources.
However, analysts note the significant challenges in developing adequate refining capacities.
He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, remarked in the Chinese-run Global Times that creating a fully developed refining system in the near future posed formidable challenges, necessitating vast investments and potentially spanning years.
The QUAD nations are further constrained by the erosion of their manufacturing bases, while Western security analysts lament that China holds a significant ‘decades-long headstart’ in this arena.
Following two years of oversupply, prices for critical minerals have plummeted.
An International Energy Agency report from earlier this year noted that lithium prices, which soared eightfold between 2021 and 2022, dropped by over 80% in 2023.
Prices for graphite, cobalt, and nickel have also declined by 10 to 20% in 2024.
Financial commentators in Australia have reacted to the QUAD’s announcements by highlighting that the price drops, coupled with the substantial capital investments required to establish processing and refining facilities from scratch, render this sector less appealing for private investment.
Nevertheless, the QUAD maintains that discussions are underway with 30 to 40 corporations from member states to cultivate such capabilities.
Regardless of the outcomes of these talks, the focus on supply chains makes clear that the US is preparing for an imminent conflict with China, while simultaneously seeking to establish war-related economies to sustain such a confrontation.
image source from：wsws
