Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth meets China, India defence ministers at South-east Asian summit
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It was not clear if US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth would meet any Chinese officials while in Kuala Lumpur for the two-day meeting.
PHOTO: REUTERS
KUALA LUMPUR - US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Oct 31 with counterparts from China and India, beginning a series of face-to-face meetings at an Asean defence summit in Malaysia, as Washington seeks to boost regional security ties.
Mr Hegseth said on X he told China’s Dong Jun the United States would “stoutly defend its interests” and maintain the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, while voicing concern about Chinese activities in the disputed South China Sea and around Taiwan.
Mr Hegseth hailed as “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence” a new 10-year defence cooperation framework he signed with Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh.
“It’s a significant step for our two militaries, a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead,” Mr Hegseth told reporters after the signing.
Mr Hegseth and Mr Singh were meeting for the first time since the United States imposed tariffs of 50 per cent on Indian goods in August as punishment for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
The tariffs prompted India to pause purchases of US defence equipment, with the two sides expected to discuss on Oct 31 a review of India’s plans to buy the military hardware.
As Washington looks to tackle China’s growing assertiveness in the region, Mr Hegseth is expected to meet the defence ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, among others, said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity,
Delegations from Australia, China, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia are also attending the meeting of defence ministers of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean).
Mr Hegseth met Malaysia's defence minister on Oct 31 and both leaders committed to maritime security in the disputed South China Sea.
The busy waterway is claimed almost entirely by China, although it overlaps the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Beijing has deployed a coast guard armada in the busy waterway that has clashed repeatedly with Philippine vessels and been accused of disrupting the energy activities of Malaysia and Vietnam.
"Grey-zone tactics, such as hydrographic research conducted under the protection of foreign coast guard vessels, threaten sovereignty and are a clear provocation and threat," Malaysian defence minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a joint statement.
Unresolved disputes have festered for years over the sovereignty of multiple islands and features.
Beijing says its coastguard has operated professionally in defending Chinese territory from incursions.
The United States has sought to shore up its presence in South-east Asia and counter the growing influence of China.
On Oct 26, US President Donald Trump told Asean leaders the United States was "with you 100 per cent and we intend to be a strong partner for many generations".
Washington has a defence pact with the Philippines that involves dozens of annual military drills and use of some of its bases, in addition to similar exercises with Thailand and Indonesia and exchanges with Malaysia.
Order to resume nuclear weapons testing
Shortly before meeting Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Oct 30, Mr Trump said he had ordered the US military to resume nuclear weapons testing amid a rapid expansion of China's nuclear stockpile.
Asean was consistently opposed to nuclear weapons and was working to get all five nuclear weapons states to endorse a nuclear-free zone in South-east Asia, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told reporters on Oct 31, when asked about the resumption.
The Trump administration's efforts to persuade its allies to spend more on defence have caused friction, but Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Mr Trump this week that she was determined to boost defence capabilities.
On Oct 29, Mr Hegseth urged Japan to hasten plans to boost defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP, saying the alliance between Washington and Tokyo was "critical to deterring Chinese military aggression". REUTERS