US defense chief vows to 'stoutly defend' Indo-Pacific interests in talks with China
Associated Press
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From left, Brunei's Defense Minister Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Seiha, Indonesia's Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Laos' Defense Minister Khamlieng Outhakaisone, Myanmar's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe, Malaysia's Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Philippine's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, Thailand's Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, East Timor's Defense Minister Donaciano da Costa Gomes, Vietnam's Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn hold hands as they pose for a group photo during the opening session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leaves after a bilateral meeting with Malaysia's Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)Malaysia's Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin delivers his remarks during the opening session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)Ministers and members of delegates attend the opening session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)From left, Philippine's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, Thailand's Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and East Timor's Defense Minister Donaciano da Costa Gomes hold hands as they pose for a group photo during the opening session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)
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From left, Brunei's Defense Minister Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Seiha, Indonesia's Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Laos' Defense Minister Khamlieng Outhakaisone, Myanmar's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe, Malaysia's Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Philippine's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, Thailand's Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit, East Timor's Defense Minister Donaciano da Costa Gomes, Vietnam's Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn hold hands as they pose for a group photo during the opening session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)