The Guardian: Biden caught on hot mic discussing China's regional intentions

US President Joe Biden was recently overheard on a hot mic during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and their Japanese and Indian counterparts at the Quad summit in Delaware.

In this candid moment, he expressed concerns that China is “testing” the United States across the Asia-Pacific region, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Guardian.

Following the opening remarks, Biden remarked, “China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region. This is evident in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, South China, South Asia, and the Taiwan Strait.”

Biden noted that, in his view, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be focusing on domestic economic challenges while seeking to mitigate turbulence in China’s diplomatic relationships. He suggested that Xi is attempting to secure diplomatic space to more aggressively pursue China’s interests.

The US president characterised Beijing’s recent actions as a “change in tactic, not a change in strategy.”

China is currently grappling with significant domestic economic issues, including a slowdown in industrial activity and declining real estate prices, as it tries to encourage spending to boost demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After their discussions, the leaders released a joint declaration, expressing “serious concern about the militarisation and coercive, intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea.”