By The South Asia Times

Kuala Lumpur - The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday told his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun that Washington does not warnt conflict with Beijing.

Hegseth met with China Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Malaysia capital Kuala Lumpur.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth described the talks as “good and constructive,” noting that he underscored the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. He also raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea, around Taiwan, and toward American allies and partners in the region.

“The United States does not seek conflict,” Hegseth said. “But it will continue to stoutly defend its interests and ensure it has the capabilities in the region to do so.”

He added that Friday’s meeting followed a September 9 video conference between the two defense leaders and reaffirmed that Washington would continue discussions with the People’s Liberation Army on issues of mutual importance.

The meeting comes amid persistent tensions between the two powers over maritime disputes, Taiwan’s security, and growing military competition across the Indo-Pacific.

China’s Ministry of National Defense said Friday that Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun held a constructive meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

According to a statement released by Beijing, Admiral Dong said that the recent meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea had provided “strategic guidance for the stable development of China-U.S. relations in the next stage.” He noted that both countries “can absolutely achieve mutual success and common prosperity” if they adhere to the principles agreed upon by their leaders.

Dong urged both defense departments to take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the two presidents. He called for enhancing high-level strategic communication, strengthening policy dialogue to build trust and dispel doubts, and expanding positive interactions among military personnel. He also encouraged greater academic and institutional exchanges to help both sides explore a stable and constructive model of military-to-military coexistence based on “equality, respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutual support.”

Reiterating Beijing’s firm stance on Taiwan, Dong said that “the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is an unstoppable historical trend.” He urged Washington to act with caution on the issue and oppose any form of “Taiwan independence.”

China, he added, remains committed to peaceful development but will “resolutely safeguard its national security interests.” He expressed hope that the U.S. will match its words of not seeking conflict or containment with concrete actions and cooperate with China to contribute to regional and global peace and stability.