Australia: Antony Blinken begins a tour of Oceania to counter China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon his arrival in Australia, February 9, 2022. REUTERS - KEVIN LAMARQUE

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Antony Blinken, the head of American diplomacy, landed this Wednesday, February 9 in Melbourne, Australia, where he begins a three-day visit.

On the program, a meeting with his Australian, Japanese and Indian counterparts within the framework of the Quad, this alliance led by Washington intended to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.

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With our correspondent in Sydney

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If it is Russia that is currently occupying all minds in the West, it is indeed China and its growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region that will be at the center of the discussions scheduled for Friday February 11 in Melbourne within the framework of

the alliance of the United States, Australia, Japan and India. 

The fight against disinformation, anti-terrorism, climate change, but also cyber defense and the distribution of vaccines in the region will be discussed during this meeting, according to Marise Payne, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Antony Blinken, the most senior member of the US government to visit Australia since the start of the Biden presidency, is next due to travel to Fiji.

There he will meet the leaders of several Pacific countries, where there too, China's entryism is worrying.

It thus intends to renew military agreements with three countries in the region: Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands.

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• Australia

• United States

• India

• Japan

• China

• Micronesia

• Palau

• Marshall Islands

• Fiji

• Diplomacy