The US Defense Secretary’s statements were revealed hours after he called on Southeast Asian nations to combat China’s increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that Washington and Beijing will establish communication channels between the armed forces, adding that bilateral relations between the two countries “have never been better.”
Hegseth said he spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on Saturday night on the sidelines of a regional security meeting, and that they both agreed that “peace, stability and good relations are the best path forward for the two great and strong countries.”
Hegseth’s statements, published on the social network X, were revealed hours after he urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and reinforce maritime forces to combat China’s increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea.
“China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea run counter to commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,” Hegseth said in a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday.
“We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not trying to dominate you,” he added.
The South China Sea continues to be one of the most volatile spots in Asia. Beijing claims almost the entire region, while ASEAN members – namely the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei – also claim sovereignty over coastal areas and several islands.
The Philippines, an important ally of the United States, has been involved in frequent clashes with Chinese maritime forces.
Manila has repeatedly called for a stronger regional response, but ASEAN has traditionally sought to balance caution with economic ties with Beijing, the region’s biggest trading partner.
Hegseth said on the social network X that he spoke with US President Donald Trump and that they both agreed that “the relationship between the US and China has never been better.”
Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea last week “set the tone for lasting peace and success for the United States and China”, added the Defense Secretary, who left Malaysia this Sunday for Vietnam.
The contrasting messages — a stern warning at the ASEAN meeting followed by conciliatory language online — underscore Washington’s effort to balance deterrence with diplomacy amid rising tensions with Beijing.
“It’s about damage control. Most importantly, it reflects two different currents in US relations with China — one that sees China as a threat and the other as a possible partner”, considers Southeast Asia political analyst Bridget Welsh, cited by the Associated Press.
Hegseth on Saturday urged ASEAN to accelerate the completion of a long-delayed Code of Conduct that is being negotiated with China to govern behavior at sea. The North American official also proposed the development of shared maritime surveillance and rapid response systems to deter provocations.
A network of “shared maritime domain awareness” would ensure that any member facing “aggression and provocation is not alone”, he said.
Hegseth also welcomed plans for an ASEAN-US maritime exercise in December aimed at strengthening regional coordination and defending freedom of navigation.
China rejects US criticism of its maritime conduct, accusing Washington of interfering in regional affairs and provoking tensions through its military presence. Chinese authorities say their patrols and maritime activities are legal and aim to maintain security in what they consider Chinese territory.
Chinese authorities on Saturday criticized the Philippines as a “disorderly” element after Manila carried out naval and air exercises with the United States, Australia and New Zealand in the South China Sea.
The two-day exercise, which ended on Friday, was the 12th the Philippines says it has carried out with partner nations since last year to protect rights in the disputed waters.
Tian Junli, spokesman for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, said the exercise had seriously harmed regional peace and stability. “This further proves that the Philippines is a troublemaker in the South China Sea issue and a saboteur of regional stability,” he said.
