<span style="color: #222222;">US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with Japan Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi next week in the United States to discuss Russia's military action in Ukraine. <br />''<br />''They will also discuss ways to beef up the bilateral alliance amid China's growing assertiveness, according to the Pentagon. The meeting will take place during Kishi's trip to the United States from Tuesday to May 6, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told a news conference Friday.</span><br />