Japan, U.S. to hold security talks in response to China's coercion TOKYO - Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers are set to closely coordinate on steps to strengthen the bilateral alliance at security talks Tuesday in Tokyo as China puts forth increasingly coercive measures across the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are in Japan for the first Cabinet-level overseas trip under President Joe Biden's administration, looking to work with Tokyo in addressing China, which Washington describes as "the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century." From left: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (Getty), Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. (Kyodo)