WorldAl JazeeraHegseth heads to Manila to shore up US ties with Asia-Pacific partners
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is heading to Manila for an ASEAN defence meeting, with South China Sea tensions and the fallout from the US-Iran war high on the agenda.
The Iran war and Trump’s criticisms of allies have led Asia-Pacific countries to recalibrate their calculations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in the Philippines alongside counterparts from India, South Korea and Japan.
Australia, New Zealand, Russia and China are also expected to send representatives, with the South China Sea dispute expected to dominate as the Philippines chairs the summit.
Analysts say Manila will push for ASEAN to finalise a code of conduct with China on maritime disputes, amid at least eight close encounters in the South China Sea this month.
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