In a rare diplomatic development, the ambassadors of the four Quad countries India, the United States, Australia and Japan, held a public meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. The meeting takes place at a time of rising tensions in the region due to China’s large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, which are widely seen as an intimidation move.

The meeting was confirmed through a post on X by the American Ambassador to China, David Perdue. Sharing a photograph of the four envoys together at the US Embassy in Beijing, Perdue described the Quad as a positive force in the region. He said the grouping plays an important role in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.

In his post, Perdue wrote, “It is a pleasure to meet with the ambassadors of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue countries in Beijing.” He further added, “The relations among the four countries—the United States, Australia, India, and Japan—continue to be stable and strong.” He also described the Quad as a “force for good” in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

India was represented at the meeting by its Ambassador to China, Pradeep Kumar Rawat. The presence of all four envoys together in Beijing is being seen as significant, especially because such meetings are rarely held publicly in China.

The timing of the meeting is important. China is currently conducting large military drills around Taiwan, which has led to increased tensions in the region. These exercises have also affected China’s relations with Japan. Earlier this month, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Tokyo could respond with its own self-defence forces if China were to attack Taiwan. This statement added to concerns about the possibility of a wider regional conflict.

Against this backdrop, the meeting of Quad ambassadors assumes great significance. China has long viewed the Quad, which includes India, the US, Japan and Australia, as a US-backed group aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Because of this, any visible show of unity among Quad members is closely watched by Beijing.

China has not yet officially reacted to Tuesday’s meeting. However, in the past, Beijing has openly criticised the Quad. Chinese officials have repeatedly opposed such groupings, arguing that they are designed to target China’s interests. China has often described the Quad as an “exclusionary clique”.

After a Quad meeting held in January, China issued a strong statement criticising the grouping. At that time, Beijing said, “China believes that cooperation between countries should not target any third party.” It further added, “Engaging in group politics and bloc confrontation will not bring lasting peace and security, and is not conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world as a whole.”

While meetings involving Quad officials in Beijing are not entirely new, analysts have noted that the timing of this particular meeting stands out. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the gathering appeared to be an effort to project unity and deterrence at a time when China is conducting military drills around Taiwan.

However, the report also pointed out that some experts have raised questions about the Quad’s relevance. These experts noted delays in holding some planned meetings and suggested that the bloc may be facing challenges, especially at a time when the Trump administration is reportedly shifting its priorities in its approach towards China.

Even so, the public nature of the meeting and the statements made by the US ambassador have ensured that the event has attracted attention. With regional tensions high and diplomatic signals closely examined, the rare Quad meeting in Beijing has underlined the continued importance of the grouping in the evolving Indo-Pacific strategic landscape.