WILMINGTON, United States, Sept 22, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - US President Joe Biden
was caught on a hot mic Saturday telling the leaders of Australia, India and
Japan that an aggressive China is "testing us," in remarks that risked
undercutting a summit declaration that carefully avoided mentioning Beijing
by name.

The comments came as Biden opened a farewell summit in his hometown of
Wilmington, Delaware with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime
Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region,"
Biden was heard in what were supposed to be behind-closed-doors remarks to
the so-called "Quad."

Biden said that while Chinese President Xi Jinping was focusing on "domestic
economic challenges" he was also "looking to buy himself some diplomatic
space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China's interest."

But he insisted that recent "intense efforts" by Washington to reduce
tensions, including a call with Xi in April, were helping to prevent
conflict.

The hot mic blunder risked undermining careful diplomatic efforts by all four
countries during the summit to insist that their grouping is about more than
just providing a counterweight to China.

- 'Seriously concerned' -

In their joint statement after the summit, the four leaders made no direct
mention of China, even as they expressed concern over tensions on its
borders.

"We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China
Seas," their declaration said.

The leaders condemned "coercive and intimidating maneuvers" in the South
China Sea -- where China has been at odds with the Philippines and other
nations over its maritime claims -- but without saying whose maneuvers.

Disputed islands in the East China Sea have meanwhile long been a source of
tensions between Japan and China.

Instead the leaders used veiled statements, as they have on previous
occasions, about keeping the region "free and open" and talking about
geopolitical "challenges."

The other shadow hanging over the summit was November's US presidential
election, with the isolationist former president Donald Trump in a tight race
against Biden's political heir Kamala Harris.

Biden insisted that the group would survive whatever the political situation.

"While challenges will come, the world will change because the Quad is here
to stay," Biden told the leaders in his public remarks before journalists
were ushered out.

Asked by reporters if the Quad would make it past the November 5 election,
Biden replied: "Way beyond November. Way beyond November."

- 'Here to stay' -

India's Modi made a similar pledge -- in a commitment that will be welcomed
by Washington, Canberra and Tokyo as they court the historically non-aligned
New Delhi.

"Our message is, the Quad is here to stay," said Modi, who is due to host
next year's Quad summit in India.

Biden, who bowed out of the US presidential election in July after concerns
about his age, filled his farewell summit with personal touches.

The four-way summit took place at his former high school in Wilmington and he
earlier opened up his home in the city for private, one-on-one talks with
each of the leaders.

"I am really pleased that you were able to be in my home and see where I grew
up," he said.

The leaders also announced investment into fighting cervical cancer for
Biden's "Cancer Moonshot" initiative -- again a deeply person project as his
eldest son Beau died of brain cancer.

The media were given no access to the private meetings at Biden's home.

Biden posted pictures on social media of him with Albanese and then with
Kishida in a wood-paneled drawing room in his house, and showing them the
view of a lake from a veranda.

The White House said the summit reflected the way Biden prioritized
international alliances.

There are growing questions about what would happen if Trump -- who has
threatened to pull the United States out of groups like NATO while praising
the leaders of Russia and North Korea -- returns to the Oval Office.