China’s Evolving Perspectives on the Quad

Abstract

The revival of the Quad with an “Indo-Pacific strategy” was initially not taken seriously by China. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in 2020, especially after the China-US trade war, the Quad is increasingly moving in a strategic direction aimed at containing China. From China’s perspective, the United States is staging a “five-four-three-two” formation in the Asia-Pacific, a form of an Asian NATO. In response, China’s diplomatic efforts will focus on breaking the strategic containment of the US-led Quad.