Beijing, Dec. 30 -- US Ambassador to China, David Perdue, on Tuesday reaffirmed the Quad's role in maintaining a "free and open" Indo-Pacific during a meeting with Quad ambassadors in Beijing, highlighting the strength of the US-Australia-India-Japan partnership amid ongoing large-scale Chinese military exercises in the South China Sea.

In a post on X following the meeting, Ambassador Perdue described the grouping as "a force for good" and emphasised the four nations' continued commitment to regional stability and security.

"The Quad is a force for good working to maintain a free and open Indopacific. It is always great to meet with the Quad Ambassadors here in Beijing. The US-Australia-India-Japan relationship continues to be strong," ...