China Slams 'Cliques' Targeting Certain Countries China always builder of global peace, contributor to global development, defender of international order, says Beijing. China on Monday slammed what it termed the "forming of cliques" targeting certain countries. In an era of globalization, forming "cliques" with ideologies and targeting specific countries undermines international order and will lead nowhere, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian. The statement came against the backdrop of the first virtual meeting held by the US with its allies Japan, Australia and India -- a loosely knit group called the Quad -- apparently to "contain" China's rising influence. The Quad leaders held the meeting last week, with US President Joe Biden calling for a "free and open Indo-Pacific."