U.S. Secretary of State for Defense is responding against China to the Tokyo trip

Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin were in Japan on Tuesday on the first trip abroad by members of President Biden’s cabinet. They said the US and Japan would step up deterrence to meet China’s challenges.

The debate on China lasted nearly a 90-minute meeting with Mr Blinken, said Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Motegi said both sides shared concerns about a new law that would allow the Chinese Coast Guard to use military force to defend national sovereignty. Tokyo fears that Beijing may use force to take islands from the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

Austin said the U.S. military must respond to the rapid advances made by Beijing as a fighting force in the past two decades. “Our goal is to make sure we maintain a competitive advantage over China or anyone else who wants to threaten us or our alliance,” he said.

U.S. and Japanese officials did not detail any new initiatives, but in a joint statement, Japan said it would increase its defense and allies said they would build partnerships with other democracies. On Friday, Mr Biden spoke via video link with leaders in India, Australia and Japan, a group known as the Quad that has taken on new importance as a counterweight to China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who spoke Tuesday before concluding the Tokyo meetings, said Beijing believed consultations by US officials should benefit the peace and stability of the region. and “should not be directed at third parties or harm the interests of a third party.”

Beijing has rejected U.S. criticism of its policies in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other areas on its periphery, saying they are internal issues.

Mr. Blinken and Mr. Austin’s visits to Tokyo and Seoul this week reflect Mr. Biden’s goal of building a consensus on China with Asian allies who are sometimes more cautious when confronting Beijing because of the close economic ties.

Japan’s trade with China exceeds what is done in the United States, and Japanese technology companies, especially those that manufacture industrial robots, semiconductors, and electronic parts, rely heavily on sales in China. Tokyo was preparing to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping last year before leaving the plan due to the coronavirus pandemic.

There is also conflict between some senior members of Japan’s ruling party who have ties to China and younger politicians more concerned about Beijing’s rapid military rise, said Mieko Nakabayashi, a professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University.

Japan has recently intensified open criticism of China, joining a statement by the Seven Nations group condemning Beijing’s moves to end democracy in Hong Kong.

Messrs. Blinken and Austin also met on Tuesday with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. U.S. cabinet members will travel to South Korea on Wednesday.

South Korea has been cautious in provoking China, its largest export market and a potential channel to re-engage with North Korea. He has distanced himself from speculation that he could become a fifth member of the Quad group of nations.

Seoul’s deputy foreign minister said last week on a radio program that his country would not participate in forums that would close a particular country.

“As far as I know, South Korea has never had, and still doesn’t have, a thoughtful Chinese policy, other than trying not to upset it,” said Wi Sung-lac, a former South Korean diplomat who retired in 2015.

This approach by China has opened up the South Korean economy to Beijing’s coercion and has generated hope in Beijing that Seoul can break away from the U.S. orbit, Wi said. President Moon Jae-in’s administration has repeatedly said it is committed to Seoul’s military alliance with Washington.

Later this week, Mr. Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will meet with their Chinese counterparts in Alaska, while Mr. Austin will travel to India.

—Andrew Jeong of Seoul contributed to this article.

Write to Alastair Gale to [email protected]