US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to travel to three countries

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Australia, Fiji and Hawaii for meetings with key allies and to reaffirm a commitment to push back against China's growing economic and military coercion.

Highlights of the week will be a meeting of the informal grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States known as the Quad.  Important issues like diplomatic efforts regarding North



Korea and discussions over Pacific Islands where  China wants to establish bases are likely to be figured in the meeting.

Blinken's trip comes days after China and Russia declared a "no limits" strategic partnership at the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The United States is engaged in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.