Hegseth says US ready to share tools to help allies counter 'aggressive' ChinaUS Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth walks with his staff prior to a ministerial lunch at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Nov 1, 2025. "You live it on the threats we all face from China's aggression and course of actions in the South China Sea and elsewhere," he said. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea via a line on its maps that overlaps with parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. On Friday, its Defence Minister Dong Jun said it was necessary for China and ASEAN to work together to "pool Eastern strength" and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. We do not seek conflict, but we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else," Hegseth told ASEAN counterparts.
