Quad summit 'not about China'

The government has emphasised the historic "Quad leaders" multilateral summit in the Indo-Pacific is "not about China" as leaders from the US, India, Japan, and Australia prepare to discuss the strengthening of ties in the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the summit was about four "like-minded" liberal democracies addressing important issues in the Indo-Pacific. "The Quad is about ensuring an open, independent, sovereign Indo-Pacific that enables all countries within the region to engage with each other... it is not a mini-UN of four nations," he said. The summit will be one of President Biden's earliest multi-lateral engagements- often handing off much of his agenda to Vice President Kamala Harris. The meeting will be held on Saturday, and despite the government claiming China was not the sole focus of the summit, it is believed discussions around security, the growing rise of China in the region and maritime safety will feature.