US looking at working-level quadrilateral with India,Japan, Australia

The United States has said it is looking at a working-level quadrilateral meeting in the near term with India, Japan and Australia. Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice G Wells said in Washington that the first of those meeting at the working level will be held soon, which includes India, Japan and Australia. Responding to questions, Wells refuted reports that such a move is aimed at containing China. 

However, she said predatory financing, a term increasingly being used by the US for China's developmental and assistance model to the countries in the region, will be on the



agenda of the four countries. She said the quadrilateral is a natural expression and convergence of interests between democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region and it is a natural stepping stone from the very productive trilateral conversations, exercises, and cooperation between India, Japan, and the US. 

Earlier this week, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono proposed reviving the forum, which he said he had discussed with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Manila in August.