U.S. Defence Secretary Hegseth Meets Chinese and Indian Counterparts at ASEAN Summit

Reuters

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 15 October 2025.

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth held separate meetings on Friday with his Chinese and Indian counterparts on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia, as Washington seeks to strengthen regional security partnerships amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth said on X that he told China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun the United States would “stoutly defend its interests” and maintain the regional balance of power. He also expressed concern over Chinese activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

The U.S. Defence Secretary described a newly signed 10-year defence cooperation framework with India as “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.” 

Speaking after the signing, Hegseth said: “It’s a significant step for our two militaries — a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead.”

The meeting with India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh came amid recent trade frictions following Washington’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods in August, in response to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. India subsequently paused its procurement of U.S. defence equipment, and both sides were expected to review these plans during Friday’s discussions.

Hegseth is also scheduled to meet defence ministers from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand to discuss maritime security and regional defence cooperation, according to U.S. officials. Delegations from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia are also participating in the ASEAN defence summit.

During talks with Malaysia’s Defence Minister on Thursday, Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. support for maritime security in the South China Sea, where China’s expansive territorial claims overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several ASEAN members. Beijing’s coastguard vessels have repeatedly clashed with Philippine ships and have been accused of disrupting energy operations by Malaysia and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%. However, tensions persist following Trump’s directive for the U.S. military to resume nuclear weapons testing, citing China’s growing nuclear arsenal.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reiterated the bloc’s firm opposition to nuclear weapons, stating that efforts are ongoing to establish a nuclear-free zone in Southeast Asia.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, meanwhile, told President Trump she was determined to increase defence spending, after Hegseth urged Tokyo to accelerate its plans to boost defence expenditure to 2% of GDP.

Source: Reuters



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