China accuses Pete Hegseth of sowing division in Asia in speech ‘filled with provocations’. PHOTO: NEWSWEEK
KUALA LUMPUR:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held talks on Friday with counterparts from China and India, among a series of face-to-face meetings at an ASEAN defence summit in Malaysia as Washington seeks to boost its influence and regional security ties.
Hegseth said on X he told China’s Dong Jun the United States would “stoutly defend its interests” and maintain the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, while voicing concern about Chinese activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
He also hailed as “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence” a new 10-year defence cooperation framework signed with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
“It’s a significant step for our two militaries, a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead,” Hegseth told reporters after the signing.
Hegseth and Singh met for the first time since the United States imposed tariffs of 50% on Indian goods in August as punishment for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which led to India pausing purchases of US defence equipment.
Hegseth’s visit to Southeast Asia came soon after Trump shocked the world by announcing on social media that he had asked the US military to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons”, saying the United States could not fall behind Russia and China. But there has been confusion in Washington as to whether Trump meant testing nuclear weapons delivery systems such as missiles, or explosive testing of nuclear devices, which would mean ending a 33-year moratorium.
Hegseth did not respond when asked by a reporter on Friday to clarify what kind of nuclear tests Trump was referring to. ASEAN is consistently opposed to nuclear weapons and working to get all nuclear weapons states to endorse a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told reporters on Friday, when asked about the resumption.
The US has sought to shore up its presence in Southeast Asia to counter an increasingly assertive China, with Trump on Sunday telling ASEAN leaders Washington is “with you 100% and we intend to be a strong partner for many generations”.
The United States has a defence pact with the Philippines that involves dozens of annual military drills and use of some of its bases, in addition to similar exercises with Thailand and Indonesia and security exchanges with Malaysia.
