The US “will continue to vigorously defend its interests,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun.

Hegseth told the Chinese defense minister that Washington is concerned about China’s activities in the South China Sea, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region, he said in a post on X.

Today, I met with China’s Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus. It was a good and constructive meeting. I highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and emphasized U.S.… pic.twitter.com/CcipIBWb4b

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 31, 2025