China Criticises Quad as ‘Exclusive Bloc’ After Indo-Pacific Security and Energy Initiatives Announced
China on Tuesday once again voiced its opposition to the Quad alliance, saying it does not support the creation of exclusive groups or bloc-based politics.
The remarks came shortly after the four-member Quad grouping unveiled a fresh set of initiatives aimed at boosting cooperation and security across the Indo-Pacific region.
Responding to questions about the latest announcements made by the Quad nations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing has repeatedly made its position on the grouping clear.
According to Mao, international cooperation should focus on promoting peace, stability and economic growth in the region rather than targeting any particular country.
She added that China opposes alliances that could lead to confrontation or deepen geopolitical divisions.
The Quad consists of India, the United States, Japan and Australia, and has increasingly expanded its strategic coordination in recent years amid growing concerns over China’s military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific.
During the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting held in New Delhi on Tuesday, the member nations announced several new measures to strengthen maritime monitoring capabilities and improve port infrastructure across the region.
The discussions largely centred around maintaining security and stability in vital sea routes.
The grouping also expanded cooperation in the areas of critical minerals and energy security, signalling a stronger push towards reducing dependence on vulnerable global supply chains.
One of the major announcements was the launch of an Indo-Pacific energy security framework.
The initiative is aimed at reducing risks arising from global energy disruptions through strategic fuel reserves, coordinated emergency response systems and policy-level cooperation between member countries.
The development comes at a time when concerns over global energy supplies have intensified following tensions around the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies typically pass through the narrow waterway.
The high-level meeting in New Delhi was chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
It was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
In a joint statement, the Quad foreign ministers stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and ensuring uninterrupted commercial shipping through key international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.
They also opposed any restrictions that could disrupt global trade and maritime movement.
The leaders further reaffirmed their commitment to building stable and resilient energy markets while promoting diversified and secure supply chains across strategic sectors.
On the sidelines of the Quad meeting, India and the United States also finalised a new framework for cooperation in the critical minerals sector.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in mining, processing, recycling and investments linked to rare earth and critical mineral supply chains.
Describing the initiative as both “timely and critical,” Jaishankar said the framework would help deepen cooperation across the entire supply chain related to critical minerals and rare earth elements.
Critical minerals play a crucial role in the manufacturing of advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, drones, semiconductors and battery storage systems.
China currently dominates a significant share of the global critical minerals market, making supply diversification an important strategic priority for many countries.
Responding to China’s criticism of the Quad, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the grouping remains focused on ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We are focused on peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and that is what our actions are intended to support,” Wong said after the conclusion of the meeting in New Delhi.
The latest developments highlight the growing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, where regional powers are increasingly seeking stronger partnerships to secure trade routes, energy supplies and economic resilience amid evolving geopolitical tensions.
