Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday told China’s defense minister that the U.S. will “stoutly defend its interests” in the Indo-Pacific region.

Hegseth said emphasized “the importance of maintaining a balance of power” in the region in his discussions with Chinese admiral Dong Jun, which took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) national security summit in Malaysia.

The Defense chief, who called the meeting "good and constructive," added that he brought up “serious concerns” about China’s activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan in a post on social platform X.

The U.S. "does not seek conflict, it will continue to stoutly defend its interests and ensure it has the capabilities in the region to do so,” Hegseth wrote.

Following the m

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