Blinken's Asia visit to emphasize commitment despite Ukraine crisis

U.S. secretary of state meets with Quad counterparts and Pacific Island states

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Australia next week for a Quad foreign ministers' meeting. © Reuters

February 5, 2022 02:04 JST

Updated on February 5, 2022 03:04 JST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to Asia next week for talks with Indo-Pacific allies, including a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation Quad, the State Department said on Friday.

Blinken is making the trip despite the mounting crisis over Ukraine, and policy analysts say the aim is to show the Indo-Pacific region support and that pushing back against China's expanding influence remains Washington's top priority.