On Friday, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun stressed the need for the U.S. to be careful in its words and actions about the Taiwan issue, and indicated that Washington should stand against any steps toward independence for the island. In a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Malaysia, Dong reiterated China’s peaceful development but said Beijing would “resolutely safeguard” its national sovereignty and security interests.
The meeting took place on the margins of the ASEAN Defence Summit—an important venue for regional discussions amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Dong said the two countries both needed to start talking to each other more on a policy basis and continue their military-to-military engagement to help reduce misunderstandings and ensure regional stability.
In the meantime, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had communicated Washington’s intent to protect its strategic interest and undertake efforts to maintain the regional balance of power. In a post on X, Hegseth said he had also communicated its concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea and its increased military activities near Taiwan.
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