US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed a framework to guide defense cooperation with Southeast Asian countries over the next several years at talks in the Philippines on Wednesday, NHK World-Japan reported.
The proposal would give US cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations a framework covering several years. Maritime surveillance and joint military exercises were among the ways Hegseth proposed strengthening regional cooperation.
NHK World-Japan News carried the remarks in its Oct. 29 coverage of defense talks in the central Philippine province of Cebu. The gathering brought ASEAN members together with eight partner countries, including Japan, the United States and China.
The talks took place amid strained relations between the Philippines and China over their competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. In July, a Philippine soldier was injured when a member of the China Coast Guard struck him with a stick.
China's defense minister did not attend the gathering. Beijing instead sent a military attache stationed in the Philippines, while the United States and Japan participated at ministerial level.
A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson accused Manila on Thursday of creating numerous obstacles to China's participation. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected the accusation and said other ASEAN countries had not expressed the same view to him.
“I do not believe our ASEAN member countries feel that way,” Teodoro said. “If not, they would have let me know.” He added: “It is China's position. It is not ASEAN's position.”
Hegseth put forward the US proposal at the start of Wednesday's meeting. “We propose that we work together to develop a US-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation,” he said, calling for “a practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years.”
He also used the phrase “peace through strength” in advocating closer defense ties. His remarks did not specify a timetable for completing the proposed framework or commitments that participating countries would make.
ASEAN members differ in their relations with Beijing. Some maintain close ties with China, while others, including the Philippines, have disputes with it.
Teodoro called on members on Wednesday to keep those differences from dividing the group. Disputes, including those in the South China Sea, should be settled through “peaceful and legal means,” he said.
ASEAN plans to hold summit meetings in November, and US President Donald Trump plans to attend. The group seeks continued US involvement and support as it gives greater importance to ties with Washington amid instability in the Middle East and other international issues.
