US, China Hold Defense Talks Amid Rising Tensions in East Asia

The United States will continue to “stoutly defend its interests” while seeking to maintain regional stability, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Dong Jun, during talks in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ gathering in the Malaysian capital, marked the latest step in renewed dialogue between the two powers after months of heightened military and diplomatic tension. It followed a virtual meeting between Hegseth and Dong in September, signaling a cautious but steady improvement in communication between Washington and Beijing.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth described the discussion as “good and constructive,” noting that the two sides exchanged views on maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. “The United States does not seek conflict,” Hegseth wrote. “It will continue to stoutly defend its interests and ensure it has the capabilities in the region to do so.”

Hegseth said he conveyed Washington’s concerns about China’s growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and around Taiwan, as well as its actions toward US allies and partners. These concerns come amid repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea and friction with Australia over surveillance flights.

Beijing’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The meeting followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that Taiwan was not discussed during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. Still, tensions over Taiwan remain a central point of contention between the two nations. China has ramped up air, naval, and coast guard operations around the self-ruled island, which it considers part of its territory.

Beijing has branded Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te a “separatist,” while Lai insists that only the Taiwanese people have the right to determine the island’s future.

The Pentagon has been pressing for more transparency in China’s growing military capabilities, including its nuclear weapons program, and for direct communication between commanders to prevent miscalculations.

In a summary of last month’s virtual meeting, Hegseth said the United States was not seeking conflict, regime change, or the “strangulation” of China. His latest remarks in Kuala Lumpur reinforced Washington’s message of deterrence coupled with diplomacy.

The meeting came shortly after Trump announced that the US military had been ordered to resume nuclear testing if Russia or China restarted their own. While Trump has described China as “a distant third” behind Russia in nuclear strength, he warned that Beijing could reach parity within five years.