Blinken's trip comes days after China and Russia declared a 'no limits' strategic partnership.

Blinken had been due to hold meetings in Thailand but informed his Thai counterpart he would return to Washington to mitigate infection risks, according to a State Department spokesman.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew a civilian government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1, prompting protests and pockets of armed resistance met with violent suppression.

In his first Southeast Asia trip, Blinken will be in Malaysia and Thailand after visiting Jakarta, where he will meet President Joko Widodo and will deliver a speech on US Indo-Pacific strategy.

It was not immediately clear whether Blinken will be visiting other countries in the region.