Japan has thrown its support behind Australia to slam Chinese 'economic coercion' and 'destabilising' actions in the Indo-Pacific amid fears the region is on the brink of war. Foreign and defence ministers from the two allied countries held online talks to strengthen their security ties on Wednesday in the face of an increasingly assertive Beijing. Australia's relationship with China - by far its largest trading partner - has rapidly deteriorated since the Morrison government called for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus last year, with Beijing blocking several key Aussie exports including coal, barley, beef, ... (full story)