WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden met leaders of Australia, India and Japan on Friday, a group central to his efforts to counter China’s growing military and economic power, and said a free and open Indo-Pacific region was essential to all of their futures. “A free and open Indo Pacific is essential to each of our futures,” Biden told the meeting from the White House. The Biden administration has said the Quad nations will announce financing agreements to support an increase in manufacturing capacity for coronavirus vaccines in India, something New Delhi has called for to counter China’s widening vaccine diplomacy. The Biden administration told Reuters on Tuesday the United States and Japan would help fund Indian firms manufacturing vaccines for US drugmakers Novavax Inc and J&J. Friday’s meeting coincided with a major US diplomatic drive to solidify alliances in Asia and Europe to counter China.

Source: Pakistan Today March 12, 2021 20:01 UTC