U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his Chinese counterpart in Kuala Lumpur as part of efforts to manage tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The meeting followed previous tensions, with Hegseth raising concerns about China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and its stance on Taiwan. The U.S. defense chief expressed concerns about China’s growing influence in the region while both sides agreed to continue dialogue on matters of mutual importance.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense summit, which gathered top military officials from across the region. Hegseth characterized the session with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun as