On a day when Quad grouping expanded cooperation in critical minerals, China on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said it opposes the creation of exclusive “small cliques” and bloc confrontation.

In response to the statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “Regarding the “Quad Mechanism,” China has stated its position multiple times. Cooperation between nations should be conducive to promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and should not target any third party. We oppose the creation of exclusive “small cliques” and oppose bloc confrontation.”

Quad Foreign Ministers meet updates

The Quad grouping on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) expanded cooperation in critical minerals and energy while unveiling new measures to boost maritime surveillance and port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China’s growing military posturing in the region.

The new measures were announced following a meeting of the grouping’s Foreign Ministers in New Delhi, chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

“We affirm our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific that allows countries to develop resilience and strengthen capacity to determine their own paths. To that end, we concur on further enhancing cooperation and advancing concrete initiatives to deliver tangible benefits to the region,” the ministers said in a joint statement.

The Quad Foreign Ministers called for uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, criticised Iran’s imposition of tolls on commercial shipping in the region and voiced serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

“We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions, including by force or coercion, that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the Ministers said in the statement, sending a message to China.