Kuala lumpur: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday criticized China for its military activities in the South China Sea, urging collective efforts to counter them, such as establishing a shared maritime domain awareness platform.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth made these remarks during a meeting with his counterparts from the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur. He stressed that while America does not seek conflict, it must ensure that "China is not seeking to dominate you."
Hegseth referred to his previous comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, highlighting China's actions toward its neighbors as a wake-up call. He shared examples of intimidation, harassment, and illegal activities within sovereign waters and across the South China Sea, noting that these destabilizing actions have increased in recent months.
The secretary provided examples of China's behavior, such as ramming ships, using water cannons, and unlawfully claiming jurisdiction over international waters. He emphasized that these actions show a lack of respect for neighboring countries and contradict China's commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.
China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, marked by the nine-dash line boundary, encompass over 90 percent of the waterway, creating tensions with neighboring countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Hegseth stressed the importance of developing capabilities to monitor maritime activities and creating tools to respond to threats to sovereignty.
Hegseth proposed building shared maritime domain awareness, developing a common operating picture where threats to one are known by all, ensuring that any nation facing aggression is not isolated. He also addressed concerns that the Trump administration's America First policy might weaken security commitments to regional allies.
"We are implementing America First. But America First does not mean America alone," Hegseth stated. "It means with our allies and partners able to uphold stability, security, freedom of navigation, ultimately peace."
On Friday, Hegseth held discussions with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, expressing serious concerns over China's maritime activities in the region and reiterating the U.S. commitment to safeguarding its interests in the Indo-Pacific without seeking conflict.