(Karachi) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called its regional allies in Indo-Pacific to unite against Chinese Communist Party's "exploitation, coercion and corruption", Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Pompeo said this during a meeting with foreign ministers of Japan, Australia and India, who are considered closest allies of the U.S. in Asia.

Speaking at the start of a Quad meeting in Tokyo, the U.S. State Secretary said: "All the partners are seeking a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Meanwhile, China has denounced the meeting as an attempt to contain its development.

Mike Pompeo has cut short his trip to east Asia following the hospitalisation of Donald Trump with Covid-19. Pompeo was also scheduled to visit Mongolia and South Korea.

It is Pompeo's first trip to East Asia since July 2019 and comes as ties between the United States and strategic rival China are at their worst in decades.