"I reiterated that the United States will not leave Australia alone on the field, or maybe I should say alone on the pitch, in the face of economic coercion by China," Blinken was quoted as saying in a statement.

"That’s what allies do. We have each other’s backs so we can face threats and challenges from a position of collective strength," read the statement.

Bliken said: "It’s important to note that the friendship between Australia and the United States goes beyond diplomacy."

Australia and China have been engaged in a tough war of words for the past several months.

Blinken made the remark at a time when Canberra and Washington are marking the 70th anniversary of their alliance.