US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week met with allies in Japan as part of a dialogue aimed at preventing China’s expansion in the South China and East China seas, as well to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he scrapped his plans to go on to South Korea and Mongolia after it was announced on Oct. 2 that US President Donald Trump had tested positive for the virus, something that helped stir some resentment in the US against China.