Hegseth in Manila for ASEAN defense talks amid China tensions — SkimNews
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- Pete Hegseth attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Manila to reinforce US defense ties with Asia-Pacific partners, as regional allies recalibrate amid Washington’s focus on the Iran conflict.
- The Philippines chairs this year’s ADMM-Plus and is expected to push for finalizing a code of conduct with China on maritime disputes, particularly over the South China Sea, where tensions have recently escalated.
- China faces diplomatic pressure over its territorial claims in the South China Sea, with overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, and recent confrontations reported near Scarborough Shoal and the Spratly Islands.
- William Yang of the International Crisis Group states the South China Sea dispute will be central at the summit, noting Manila’s strategic role in advancing ASEAN-China negotiations on conflict management.
- Bonnie Glaser assesses that Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun may attend ADMM-Plus and potentially meet Hegseth, which could support upcoming Trump-Xi summits despite Beijing not yet confirming attendance.
- Ja Ian Chong highlights that Hegseth’s messaging will be scrutinized for consistency, especially after US defense official Elbridge Colby emphasized substance over symbolism in US regional engagement.
Why it matters: The US risks losing strategic credibility in Asia as allies watch for concrete commitments, not just rhetoric, amid troop shifts to the Middle East and delayed arms sales to Taiwan. Hegseth’s diplomacy could determine whether Washington maintains influence in a region increasingly wary of both Chinese assertiveness and American unpredictability.
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