Beijing blasts exclusive cliques after Quad meeting

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning commented on Tuesday, in regard to the latest Quad foreign ministers' meeting, that "no cooperation should undermine mutual trust and cooperation among countries in the region".

The foreign ministers of the Quad members — Australia, India, Japan, and the United States — announced new initiatives on Tuesday on maritime security, port infrastructure, and energy, The Associated Press reported.

"We have always believed that cooperation between countries should contribute to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, and should not be directed against a third party," Mao said in response to the report at a daily press briefing in Beijing.

"We also do not support building exclusive cliques or engaging in bloc confrontation," she said.