US President Joe Biden was caught on hot mic informing leaders from Australia, India, and Japan that China is “testing us” during a Quad summit, The Guardian reported.

His remarks, made during a farewell meeting in Wilmington, Delaware, risk overshadowing the group’s carefully crafted declaration, which notably refrained from mentioning Beijing directly.

Biden stated, “China continues to behave aggressively, testing us across the region,” highlighting concerns in areas such as the South China Sea, East China Sea, South Asia, and the Taiwan Straits.

Such comments were intended for private discussion among the Quad members, but they reveal the growing tensions surrounding China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Joe Biden stated that while Chinese President Xi Jinping is focused on “domestic economic challenges,” he is also seeking to create “diplomatic space” to advance China’s interests. Despite this, Biden emphasised that recent diplomatic initiatives by Washington, including a call with Xi in April, are helping to mitigate potential conflicts.

Biden’s comments could undermine the diplomatic efforts of the leaders during the Quad summit, where the focus was on emphasising the group’s broader goals beyond merely countering China. In their joint statement following the summit, the four leaders refrained from directly mentioning China, though they expressed concerns about rising tensions in its borders.

The leaders stated, “We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas,” and condemned “coercive and intimidating manoeuvres” in the South China Sea, where China has been in conflict with the Philippines and other nations over maritime claims, without specifically naming any party involved.

A significant concern overshadowing the Quad summit was the upcoming US presidential election in November, where former president Donald Trump is in a tight race against Biden’s potential successor, Kamala Harris.

In his public remarks, President Biden reassured the leaders from Australia, India, and Japan that the Quad would endure regardless of the political landscape. “While challenges will come, the world will change because the Quad is here to stay,” he stated before journalists were asked to leave.

When pressed by reporters about the future of the Quad beyond the November election, Biden confidently responded, “Way beyond November. Way beyond November,” emphasising his commitment to the group’s continuity and effectiveness.