While speaking at the Quad meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the key Asian allies to unite against China’s “exploitation, corruption and coercion” in the region.

At the meeting of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition comprising India, the US, Australia, and Japan, sought to present a united front against an ‘increasing assertive’ Beijing. Attacking China over the coronavirus outbreak, the US diplomat said referred to pandemic ‘that came from Wuhan’ and said it was made more ‘indefinitely worse by the Chinese Communist Party’s cover-up.’

Launching another attack on China over the country’s actions in the Himalayas, Taiwan Strait and other places, the US Secretary of State warned it was “more critical now than ever that we collaborate to protect our people and partners from the CCP’s exploitation, corruption and coercion.”

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Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankr at the QUAD meet noted the fact that the meeting was happening despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which was “testimony to the importance” of the alliance. Jaishankar and Pompeo held bilateral talks in Tokyo, focusing on the evolving security scenario in India and ways to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who did not mention China in his remarks, said at the start of the meeting, said, “Lately, the present international order has been challenged in various fields and the new coronavirus is accelerating the trend.”

Motegi added, “Our four countries share the objective of strengthening a free and open, rule-based international order.”

Pompeo’s visit to Tokyo comes after several members of the White House have tested positive, including US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Pompeo said about his visit that it was important to go ahead with the four-way talks in Japan and promised “significant announcements.”

The US Secretary of State is the first American leader to visit Japan since Yoshihide Suga took over as the country’s Prime Minister last month.

The first Quad meeting took place in New York last year, and there are moves to make the gathering an annual event.