US watching China ‘very closely’ in South China Sea, Hegseth tells ASEAN counterparts

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told China’s defense minister Friday that the U.S. will “stoutly defend its interests” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth emphasized “the importance of maintaining a balance of power” in the region in his discussions with Chinese Adm. Dong Jun, which took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations national security summit in Malaysia.

Credit to : The Economic Times