Quad's plan is damagingly divisive, despite the denials

According to reports citing an unnamed senior US official, Australia, India, Japan and the United States, the so-called Quad, are reportedly planning a joint regional infrastructure scheme to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The US official was quoted as saying that the project was on the agenda for talks between US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the latter's visit to the United States later this week. Apparently, the preferred terminology is to call the plan an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative rather than a rival.

"China might build a port which, on its own is not economically viable. We could make it economically viable by building a road or rail line linking that port," the US official was quoted as saying on Monday.