US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter China’s increasingly “destabilising” actions in the South China Sea. Hours later, he struck a notably softer tone online, saying that US-China ties have “never been better” and that both sides agreed to set up direct military communication channels.
Speaking at a Saturday meeting in Malaysia with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Hegseth reiterated US concerns over what he called China’s aggression in the disputed waters, citing incidents such as the ramming of vessels and the use of water cannons. He warned Beijing’s provocative behaviour threatened the sovereignty of its neighbours and regional stability. “China’s sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea fly in the face of their commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,” he said. “We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else.”
The South China Sea remains one of Asia’s most volatile flashpoints. Beijing claims almost the entire region, while ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim ownership of coastal areas and features. The Philippines, a key US ally, has had frequent clashes with China’s maritime fleet. Manila has repeatedly urged a stronger regional response, but ASEAN has traditionally sought to balance caution with economic ties to Beijing, the region’s largest trading partner.
Hegseth criticised Beijing’s recent declaration of the Scarborough Shoal - seized from the Philippines in 2012 - as a “nature reserve.” He told the meeting it was “yet another attempt to coerce new and expanded territorial and maritime claims at your expense.” He urged ASEAN to hasten the conclusion of a long-delayed Code of Conduct being negotiated with China to govern behaviour in the sea.
