Pentagon Chief Meets Chinese and Indian Defense Ministers at Southeast Asian Summit

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held talks on Friday with his Chinese and Indian counterparts, opening a series of face-to-face meetings at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Summit in Malaysia as Washington works to strengthen regional security ties.

On X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth said he told China’s Dong Jun that the United States would “vigorously defend its interests” and maintain the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, while expressing concern over Chinese activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

He described the newly signed 10-year defense cooperation framework with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh as “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.” The two were also expected to review India’s plans to purchase U.S. military hardware.

According to an official familiar with the talks, Hegseth is also expected to meet defense ministers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand as part of Washington’s efforts to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region. Delegations from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Russia are also attending the summit.

Concerns Over China’s “Gray-Zone” Tactics

On Thursday, Hegseth met with Malaysia’s defense minister, and both reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security in the South China Sea, a waterway claimed almost in its entirety by China but overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Beijing has deployed a large coast guard armada, which has repeatedly clashed with Philippine vessels and has been accused of interfering with Malaysian and Vietnamese energy operations.

In a joint statement, Malaysia’s Defense Minister Mohamad Khaled Nordin said, “Gray-zone tactics — such as hydrographic surveys conducted under the protection of foreign coast guard vessels — pose a threat to sovereignty and are clearly provocative and coercive.”

Beijing maintains that its coast guard operates professionally to defend Chinese territory against “foreign intrusions.”

The United States, meanwhile, has been working to bolster its presence in Southeast Asia to counter China’s expanding influence.

U.S. Seeks to Reinforce Alliances

On Sunday, President Donald Trump told ASEAN leaders that the United States was “100% with you” and intended to remain a strong partner “for generations to come.”

Washington has a defense pact with the Philippines, which includes joint military exercises and access to several bases, as well as similar arrangements with Thailand and Indonesia, and training exchanges with Malaysia.

Nuclear Testing Order Raises Tensions

Just hours before meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday, Trump announced that he had ordered the resumption of U.S. nuclear weapons testing amid China’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal.

The decision has complicated his administration’s push for allies to boost their own defense spending. Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Trump that Tokyo remains committed to strengthening its defense capabilities.

On Wednesday, Hegseth urged Japan to accelerate plans to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP, calling the U.S.-Japan alliance “vital to deterring Chinese military aggression.”