The United States and Japan warned China of its destabilizing behavior following high-level talks aimed at strengthening their alliance against China's growing influence.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Japan to strengthen regional alliances and send messages to Beijing.

Discussions in Tokyo focused on China's maneuvers in the region, including its growing presence around disputed islands with Japan.

China uses coercion and aggression to systematically undermine autonomy in Hong Kong, democracy in Taiwan, violate human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, and defend maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law, Blinken said at a joint news conference.

In a joint statement, US officials and their Japanese counterparts also warned that China's behavior that is inconsistent with the existing international order creates political, economic, military, and technological problems. 

Ministers have pledged to counter coercion and destabilizing behavior towards others in the region, they added.

Other issues were also discussed, starting with the coup in Myanmar and ending with the further development of relations with North Korea.