Rising tensions in Asia’s trade-dense waters are at the forefront as U.S. President Joe Biden hosts leaders from Australia, India, and Japan in his hometown of Delaware, aiming to strengthen diplomatic efforts against China during the final months of his presidency.

Biden will travel to Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday in anticipation of the Quad Leaders Summit, where discussions are likely to focus on the ongoing conflicts between Beijing and its neighboring countries in the South China Sea, which have faced repeated territorial disputes, according to U.S. officials speaking to Reuters. Key topics include enhanced security collaboration in the Indian Ocean and initiatives to monitor illegal fishing activities predominantly involving Chinese fleets in the Indo-Pacific region.

As Biden prepares to transition the presidency following the November 5 election, which will either see his vice president, Kamala Harris, or Republican Donald Trump, who has pledged a more confrontational stance towards China and expressed doubts about traditional U.S. alliances, the future of the Quad remains uncertain. Additionally, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to resign this month.

A senior U.S. official remarked, “You will observe various indicators during this meeting and the outcomes that demonstrate the Quad’s status as a bipartisan entity that is here to stay.” The Quad is also anticipated to address issues related to health security, cancer treatment, technology, and infrastructure initiatives.

Beijing asserts its claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, encroaching upon the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Additionally, it lays claim to areas in the East China Sea that are disputed by Japan and Taiwan. China also considers self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory.

President Biden has committed to engaging with China while ensuring that their differences do not escalate into conflict, with plans for another conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the horizon. However, his focus on U.S.-China relations has been complicated by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

Xi has expressed his disapproval of the Quad alliance, perceiving it as a strategy to encircle China and escalate tensions.

A senior official from the Biden administration remarked, “This partnership, while not explicitly aimed at China, seeks to provide alternatives to its influence.” Lisa Curtis, an expert on Asia policy at the Center for a New American Security and a former U.S. official, stated that a new maritime security initiative from the Quad would send a strong message to China, indicating that its aggressive maritime actions are intolerable and would provoke a unified response from this coalition of allied nations.

This initiative, potentially involving the Coast Guard, would highlight the security aspect of the Quad, despite India’s concerns about maintaining a non-defense focus within the grouping, Curtis noted. She added that China’s recent maritime assertiveness might be shifting India’s stance, making it more receptive to the concept of Quad security collaboration.

Former President Trump has announced plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, as India is set to host the upcoming Quad meeting, which is anticipated to be an early engagement for the next U.S. president following the November elections.