Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Admiral Dong Jun agreed during US China military talks on Saturday to establish new communication channels to de-escalate potential conflicts between the two nations.
Positive Pete Hegseth Admiral Dong Jun Meeting
Hegseth described his discussion with his Chinese counterpart as a “positive meeting.” Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining “peace, stability, and good relations.“
“Admiral Dong and I also agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise,” Hegseth stated. He confirmed more meetings on creating these US China military communication channels are coming soon.
The discussion follows a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Hegseth Addresses ASEAN South China Sea Strategy
Speaking to defense leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia, Hegseth urged them to push back against Beijing’s aggressive actions. He stated that China’s territorial claims contradict its commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.
“China’s sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea fly in the face of their commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,” Hegseth said. He also assured the leaders, “We seek peace.
We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else.”
US Backs Philippines in Maritime Dispute
The Philippines China maritime dispute has seen frequent clashes, with Chinese officials recently labeling the Philippines a “troublemaker” for its military drills with allies. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have overlapping claims with Beijing in the volatile region.
Hegseth specifically defended the Philippines against China’s recent designation of the Scarborough Shoal as a “nature reserve.” China seized the territory from the Philippines in 2012. Hegseth called the move “yet another attempt to coerce new and expanded territorial and maritime claims at your expense,” assuring Manila that a nation facing “aggression and provocation is not alone.“
Future Steps After US China Military Talks
To counter regional threats, Hegseth proposed that ASEAN create a “shared maritime domain awareness” network and rapid-response systems. He also urged the group to finalize the Code of Conduct with China.
Hegseth welcomed plans for an ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise scheduled for December. The exercise aims to strengthen coordination and safeguard freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
