For, unsettled by prospects of a “quadrilateral initiative” involving India, US, Japan and Australia, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has conveyed Beijing’s serious concerns to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee over China not being consulted in a forum that will address issues relating to East Asia.

The Chinese objection came when the two leaders met on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) last week in Manila. With India preparing to host its biggest multilateral exercise with Navies of the four countries as well as Singapore in the Bay of Bengal next month, sources said, China is worried over this dialogue enlarging into a meaningful cooperation among four “democracies” in defence and security matters.

For the record, the four countries felt there were prospects of greater cooperation when they combined well to deal with the aftermath of the tsunami. But China feels there is more than just disaster management in this informal quadrangular exchange.

Yang’s conversation with Mukherjee follows up on the demarche China sent to all four countries after their officials held informal talks in May in Manila on the sidelines of an ARF preparatory meeting. China sought to know the objective of these consultations.

India, just like the other three countries, has maintained that this effort is not directed against China. Mukherjee, sources said, assured Yang that India is not part of any design to contain China and that New Delhi valued its strong bilateral relationship with Beijing.

Interestingly, Yang brought up this issue when Mukherjee was talking about the possibility of China extending support to India’s case for permanent membership in the UN Security Council. It’s learnt that China is upset by notions that this initiative is about democracies coming together. While none of the countries have mentioned this, sources said, China has doubts over democracy being the principle on which it can be left out of such deliberations.

In the Chinese vision, the ARF and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have a key role to play in a newly evolving security architecture in Asia. In fact, the SCO summit will be held next week at Bishkek where Mukherjee will represent India as an observer. US is not part of either of these initiatives.

India is also cautious not to appear anti-China in its policies. Despite China hardening its position on the boundary issue when the two leaders last met in Hamburg, Beijing said it was waiting to hear about the next meeting between the Special Representatives ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s possible China visit towards the year-end. Incidentally, it is Beijing’s turn to propose new dates for talks. With India looking to win Chinese support for the n-deal at the Nuclear Suppliers Group, it’s keen on bridging any gaps that may have surfaced in the relationship of late.