Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the U.S. and China will open "military-to-military" channels to prevent conflicts following positive meeting with Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun. (Both: HASNOOR HUSSAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier Saturday, Hegseth attended a separate meeting in Malaysia with defense leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where he urged them to push back against Beijing’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
"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 at the meeting, according to The Associated Press.
"We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else," he added.
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The South China Sea remains volatile with Beijing, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all claiming overlapping territories.
Two Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets fly with two U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber aircraft during a joint patrol and training over the South China Sea on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Philippine Air Force via AP)
Hegseth also welcomed plans for an ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise in December aimed at strengthening coordination and safeguarding freedom of navigation.
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