The US and Japan have outlined the most significant upgrade to their joint military alliance since 1960, warning that China’s aggressive posture posed the “greatest strategic challenge” in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

The allies want to bolster their security ties to respond to what they view as a growing threat from China. At a bilateral meeting on Sunday, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts, discussed how China employs political, economic and military coercion of countries, companies and civil society, a statement said.

“Such behaviour is a serious concern to the Alliance and the entire international community, and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” said the statement.