U.S. Secretary of War Expresses Serious Concerns Over China's Maritime Activities Around Taiwan

SadaNews - U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed serious concerns during his discussions with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun regarding Beijing's maritime activities around Taiwan and the South China Sea, highlighting their impact on American security partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two ministers held discussions lasting about 75 minutes on Friday, according to a joint report on their meeting on the sidelines of a meeting of defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, as reported by Bloomberg today.

The report added that Hegseth noted that while America does not seek conflict, it will continue to defend its interests and maintain the necessary capabilities to do so in the region, according to the German news agency.

China Calls on America to be Cautious Regarding Taiwan

For his part, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told his American counterpart Pete Hegseth that the two countries need to establish mutual "trust" during their discussions today, according to the French Press Agency.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense stated in a release about the meeting that Dong told Hegseth that both parties should "enhance trust and dispel uncertainty," calling for the two militaries to "explore the right path to understanding."

Additionally, Dong told Hegseth that America must be cautious in its words and actions regarding the Taiwan issue and firmly oppose "Taiwan independence."

Dong affirmed that the "unification" of continental China and Taiwan is proceeding along the "course of historical inevitability," urging Washington to "take a clear stance against Taiwan independence," according to the ministry's statement.

It is noted that U.S. military relations with Taiwan raise tensions between Washington and Beijing, as the latter considers the island an integral part of mainland China that must be returned to the homeland by force if necessary.

This meeting was the first high-level engagement between China and America after yesterday's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two leaders largely agreed to reduce trade tensions arising from U.S. tariffs and stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies.

U.S. Defense Cooperation with India

Additionally, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised a new 10-year defense cooperation framework signed with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, describing it as "the cornerstone of stability and deterrence in the region."

Hegseth told reporters after the signing: "This is an important step for our two militaries and a roadmap for deeper and more meaningful cooperation in the future."

This was the first meeting between Hegseth and Singh since the United States imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods in August to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil.

The tariffs prompted India to halt its purchases of U.S. defense equipment. The two sides are expected to discuss today a review of India's military equipment purchase plans.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Hegseth is expected to meet with the defense ministers of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries as the United States seeks to counter China's growing influence in the region.

Delegations from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Russia are participating in the defense summit.