Defense secretary praises U.S.-China relations but says better communications needed to “deconflict and deescalate any problems that arise.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, late Saturday on the sidelines of a regional security meeting.

Pete Hegseth condemned China's actions in the South China Sea, pledged support to help Southeast Asian nations counter potential aggression.

NEW DELHI, India — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to Chinese and Indian officials at the ASEAN defense summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, vowing to continue strong American engagement in the region. In a post on X, he said he met with the Chinese National Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told China’s defense minister Friday that the U.S. will “stoutly defend its interests” in the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth emphasized “the importance of maintaining a balance of power” in the region in his discussions with Chinese Adm.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was ridiculed over the weekend after a statement in which he announced closer cooperation with China and declared, "God bless both China and the USA!" Hegseth on Saturday took to social media to disclose the new stance toward a nation previously treated as an adversary by the administration.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Saturday took aim at Beijing over an increase in "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea and committed to support Southeast Asian countries with technology to help them respond jointly to Chinese threats.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth joined hands with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, to create US-China military communication systems. The move is aimed at preventing disagreements or misunderstandings from spiralling into unintended conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth called on Southeast Asia to strengthen cooperation in maritime surveillance including the use of unmanned technologies to counter what he said was worsening aggression by Beijing in the South China Sea.

The United States and China have agreed to set up military-to-military channels to “deconflict and deescalate any problems” following the “historic” meeting between the countries’ leaders, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, according to the US defence secretary.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reported a productive meeting with China's Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun, agreeing to strengthen communication and maintain bilateral stability. This follows President Trump's positive assessment of his meeting with President Xi Jinping,