US and China Establish Military Communication Channels Amid Tensions

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on November 2, 2023, that the United States and China will create direct military communication channels. This decision follows a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, during a regional security conference in Kuala Lumpur. Hegseth emphasized that bilateral relations between the two nations have “never been better,” highlighting the importance of peace and stability for both countries.

During the discussions, Hegseth urged Southeast Asian nations to bolster their maritime defenses in response to China’s “destabilising” actions in the South China Sea. He characterized China’s extensive territorial claims as contradictory to its commitments to resolve disputes peacefully. In a statement to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he declared, “We seek peace. We do not seek conflict. But we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else.”

Regional Tensions and Military Exercises

The South China Sea remains a highly contentious area, with Beijing asserting claims over nearly the entire region. Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, also lay claim to parts of the sea. The Philippines, a key ally of the US, has encountered frequent clashes with Chinese maritime forces and has advocated for a stronger regional response. Historically, ASEAN has aimed to balance its economic ties with China, the region’s largest trading partner, against its security needs.

Hegseth’s statements on social media followed a warning issued during an ASEAN meeting, illustrating the US’s dual approach of deterrence and diplomacy amid rising tensions with Beijing. Southeast Asian political analyst Bridget Welsh remarked, “This is damage control. It reflects two different currents in US relations with China—one that sees China as a threat and another as a possible partner.”

In his remarks, Hegseth criticized China’s recent designation of the Scarborough Shoal, which was seized from the Philippines in 2012, as a “nature reserve.” He described this as an attempt to enforce expanded territorial claims at the expense of regional stability. To counter such efforts, he called for ASEAN to expedite the finalization of a long-awaited code of conduct governing behaviour in the South China Sea. He also proposed the development of a shared maritime surveillance and rapid-response system to deter provocations, advocating for a “shared maritime domain awareness” network to ensure that member states facing aggression are not isolated.

International Reactions and Future Cooperation

Hegseth welcomed plans for a joint ASEAN-US maritime exercise scheduled for December, aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and maintaining freedom of navigation in the contested waters. In contrast, China has dismissed US criticisms of its maritime activities, arguing that its patrols and construction efforts are lawful and focused on maintaining security in what it regards as its territory.

Chinese officials expressed strong disapproval of the Philippine military’s recent naval and air drills conducted in collaboration with the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Tian Junli, spokesperson for China’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, labeled the Philippines a “troublemaker” in the South China Sea, suggesting that such exercises undermine regional peace and stability.

As tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea, the establishment of military communication channels between the US and China represents a significant step towards managing potential conflicts while also navigating the complexities of international relations in the region.