The unsigned editorial in Global Times today previews the first summit of the Quad heads of state in Washington, which is scheduled for Friday. Titled “Quad mechanism turning into ‘sinister gang of Indo-Pacific,'” it states: “Despite claims of `maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region,’ the Quad mechanism is engaged in splitting the region and inciting various forces to oppose China.” It describes the memes used by the Quad — “opposing challenges to the maritime rules-based order” and “creating a safe supply chain” as based on false premises and aimed at containing China’s development.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga comes in for special treatment, with GT refuting his claim that China “could present a risk to our country’s peace and prosperity.”
They write: “The Quad mechanism itself can do no harm to China. This is because it may form a siege of China, but will never block China’s long-lasting development and rise, or Chinese people’s diligence and resolve to make progress. This also applies to AUKUS. Nonetheless, these new alliances have declared the start of the era of conflicts and confrontations. They will bring about macro and profound changes to spheres from global structure to codes of conduct.”
They conclude: “We must warn solemnly Japan, India and Australia not to follow the US too far in confronting China. Once they step on the red line of China’s core interests, China will not care about their relations with the US, and China will not hesitate to punish them.
