Overview
- Defense chiefs Pete Hegseth and Admiral Dong Jun met in Malaysia and agreed in principle to create crisis communication links between their militaries.
- Hegseth said on X that additional sessions are scheduled to work out procedures, indicating the channels are not yet in place.
- The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Xi Jinping that signaled a thaw in political ties.
- Hegseth also criticized China’s expansive South China Sea claims and emphasized U.S. support for freedom of navigation, according to AP reporting.
- Analysts noted the outreach coexists with disputes over trade, Taiwan and the South China Sea, reflecting competing impulses in U.S. policy toward China.