By David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis and Alasdair Pal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States, Australia, India and Japan recommitted to working together on Tuesday, after the first meeting of the China-focused "Quad" grouping's top diplomats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan as the Trump administration kicks off its formal foreign policy engagements in discussions with the Indo-Pacific “Quad.

(Reuters) -New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea" with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and underscored the "ironclad" U.S. defense commitment to Manila.

The first Quad ministerial meeting of Australia, India, Japan and the US since President Donald Trump took office was held on Tuesday.

Pacific, Biden’s diplomacy made America more secure by deepening its economic and security partnerships in the region, both bilaterally and multilaterally, the White House said in a fact sheet that highlighted some of the key achievements of the Biden administration.

Analysts have said the meeting is designed to signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for Mr Trump. Read more at straitstimes.com.

At noon today, Donald Trump took the presidential oath for a second time, capping a historic political comeback to the White House. As he did on the campaign trail, Trump painted a dark picture of America and took aim at President Joe Biden's leadership as his predecessor sat just steps away.

President-elect Donald Trump plans has discussed his prospective India visit with his advisors. He also seeks to travel to China after he takes office. Trump's upcoming visit is likely to take place in April this year or in the fall later this year.

On his first full day as secretary of state, Marco Rubio is meeting with his counterparts from a group of countries known as the Quad, which is made up of the United States plus India, Japan and Australia,

Rubio called China the "most potent, dangerous adversary" during his confirmation and is expected to work with India, Japan, and Australia to counter this.

China's relations are starting to improve with Japan, India and other countries that former U.S. President Joe Biden courted, just as Donald Trump brings his more unilateralist approach back to the Wh

Donald Trump’s first week in the White House has unleashed a torrent of headlines, social media posts, and contradictory claims that make it nearly impossible to discern reality from bluster and bluff.