UPDATE: In a significant development, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced today that the United States and China will set up direct military communications channels. This agreement, reached on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marks a pivotal moment in U.S.-China relations amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
During a conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, Hegseth emphasized the importance of “peace, stability, and good relations,” noting that bilateral ties have “never been better.” This move comes as the U.S. urges Southeast Asian nations to bolster their maritime defenses against what Hegseth describes as China’s increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the region.
Hegseth’s remarks were made shortly after he addressed ASEAN leaders, asserting that China’s extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea contradict their commitments to peaceful dispute resolution. “We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else,” he stated.
The South China Sea remains a critical flashpoint, with ASEAN members like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei contesting China’s aggressive territorial assertions. The Philippines, a key U.S. ally, has faced ongoing confrontations with Chinese maritime forces, prompting Manila to call for a stronger regional response to safeguard its interests.
Hegseth also revealed on social media that he had spoken with former President Donald Trump, who reaffirmed that U.S.-China relations have never been better following a meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping earlier this week in South Korea. Hegseth characterized this diplomatic engagement as setting the stage for “everlasting peace and success” between the two powers.
However, conflicting messages from Washington highlight a delicate balance between deterrence and diplomacy. Southeast Asian political analyst Bridget Welsh remarked, “This is damage control. It reflects two different currents in U.S. relations with China — one that sees China as a threat and another as a possible partner.”
At the ASEAN meeting, Hegseth criticized China’s recent claim over the Scarborough Shoal, which was seized from the Philippines in 2012, labeling it as yet another attempt to expand territorial claims at the expense of regional allies. He urged ASEAN to expedite the long-delayed Code of Conduct with China to regulate conduct in the South China Sea, proposing the development of shared maritime surveillance systems to enhance regional security.
Furthermore, Hegseth welcomed plans for a U.S.-ASEAN maritime exercise scheduled for December, aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring freedom of navigation in contested waters.
In response, Chinese officials have dismissed U.S. critiques of their maritime activities, accusing Washington of exacerbating tensions through its military presence in the region. The Chinese military labeled the Philippines a “troublemaker” after it conducted naval and air drills with the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Tian Junli, spokesperson for China’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, stated, “It further proves that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the South China Sea issue and a saboteur of regional stability.”
As this situation develops, the establishment of these military communication channels may play a crucial role in mitigating future conflicts. The world will be watching closely to see how both nations navigate this complex relationship while addressing the pressing security concerns in the South China Sea.
