US, Japan hit out at China and Russia

The United States and Japan hit out Sunday at Beijing's "destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea while also condemning Russia's growing military cooperation with China and North Korea, following high-level talks in Tokyo. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts "reiterated their strong objections to the PRC's unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea," a joint statement said.