US Urges ASEAN to Establish Monitoring Program to Combat Chinese Aggression in South China Sea
Southeast Asian states are being encouraged to participate in a new maritime awareness initiative to address the increasing Chinese 'aggression and coercion' in the South China Sea, as detailed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his address to Southeast Asian defense chiefs.
During a recent gathering of Southeast Asian defense chiefs, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the importance of establishing a regional threat monitoring program to effectively respond to Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
Hegseth called on ASEAN countries to collaborate in creating a maritime awareness program that would identify and counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the disputed waters. The US has been urging Southeast Asian states to unite in the face of what they perceive as menacing behavior from China within the strategic region.
The South China Sea has been a hotbed of tensions, particularly due to competing territorial claims between China and several Southeast Asian nations. The US has long been vocal about its support for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, advocating for the preservation of international maritime laws and norms.
By initiating a comprehensive threat monitoring initiative, ASEAN aims to enhance its maritime security capabilities and maintain stability in the region. The proposed program is set to bolster information-sharing among Southeast Asian countries to address challenges posed by China's growing presence and influence in the South China Sea.
As geopolitical rivalries continue to shape the dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, the call for a collaborative monitoring program underscores the ongoing efforts to safeguard regional security and uphold international norms amid escalating tensions.