US urges ASEAN to be firm on China in disputed sea
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is calling on Southeast Asian countries to stand firm and strengthen their naval forces to counter China’s increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea.
Speaking at a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia, Hegseth reiterated the US’s concern about what he called China’s aggression in the disputed waters, which has intensified in recent months, citing incidents such as ramming ships and using water cannons.
The South China Sea remains one of Asia’s most volatile flashpoints. Beijing claims nearly the entire region, while ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim coastal areas and features.
The Philippines, an important ally of the United States, has frequent clashes with China’s naval fleet.
Manila has repeatedly called for a stronger regional response, but ASEAN has traditionally sought to balance caution with economic ties with Beijing, the region’s largest trading partner.
Hegseth criticized Beijing’s declaration of Scarborough Shoal, which China seized from the Philippines by force in 2012, as a “nature protected area”.
“You can’t put platforms in nature reserves,” he said, describing China’s activities in the deserted shallows.
He told the meeting it was “yet another attempt to push new and expanded territorial and maritime claims at your expense.”
Hegseth said China’s provocative actions challenge and threaten territorial sovereignty in the region.
While Hegseth emphasized that Washington values the continuation of dialogue with Beijing, he said that the United States will closely monitor China’s behavior.
“China’s extensive territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea conflict with its commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,” he said.
“We’re looking for peace. We’re not looking for conflict. But we have to make sure that China doesn’t try to dominate you or anyone else.”
Hegseth called on ASEAN to expedite the finalization of the Code of Conduct the bloc is negotiating with China to regulate conduct at sea.
But he said the bloc also needed to strengthen its capacity, including improved joint surveillance and rapid response tools to deter provocations.
He proposed the development of a “common maritime domain awareness” that would alert all members if a nation was under threat.
He also welcomed plans for an ASEAN-US naval exercise in December, which he said would increase interoperability and strengthen freedom of navigation and the sovereign rights of all nations.
China rejects US criticism of its maritime activities, accusing Washington of interfering in regional issues and provoking tensions through its military presence.
Chinese officials say the patrols and construction activities are legal and that they aim to ensure security in the region they consider Chinese territory.
Chinese officials on Saturday accused the Philippines of being a “troublemaker” after Manila held naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and New Zealand in the South China Sea.
The two-day exercise, which ended on Friday, was the 12th exercise the Philippines has conducted with partner countries since last year to protect its rights in the disputed waters.
