U.S. Strengthens Indo-Pacific Ties Amid Regional Tensions

The U.S. Secretary of War emphasized during talks in Malaysia that Washington would “stoutly defend” its interests in the Indo-Pacific, signaling heightened strategic engagement with regional allies. Pete Hegseth, meeting with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur, raised concerns over Chinese activities in the South China Sea, around Taiwan, and toward U.S. partners. He reiterated Washington’s commitment to maintaining a balance of power in the region.

China’s defense ministry responded cautiously, reiterating its stance on Taiwan as an “unstoppable historical trend” and urging the U.S. to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. The dialogue followed prior discussions between Hegseth and Dong Jun, reflecting ongoing efforts to manage Indo-Pacific rivalries despite persistent disagreements over Taiwan and maritime sovereignty.

Hegseth also met with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, signing a 10-year defense framework to expand military and technological cooperation. The agreement underscores U.S.-India ties as a critical component of regional stability, with both nations highlighting the importance of a “free, open, and rules-based” Indo-Pacific.

In separate talks, Hegseth reaffirmed security commitments with Malaysia’s defense officials, who criticized Chinese “grey-zone tactics” in the South China Sea. Malaysian counterpart Mohamed Khaled Nordin stressed the need to respect sovereignty amid growing regional pressures, including cyber threats and maritime disputes.

The ASEAN defense ministers meeting concluded with calls for collaboration among dialogue partners, including the U.S., China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Russia, as tensions in the Indo-Pacific persist.