US and China Engage in Secret Talks with Southeast Asian Defenders Amid Rising Tensions

VIENTIANE (Laos), Nov 21: A closed-door meeting of South Asian defence chiefs with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand has sparked concerns over Beijing's assertive stance in its claim to most of the South China Sea.

The talks, held at the Laos Defence Ministry, saw US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin engage in behind-the-scenes discussions with Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, a day after Dong refused to meet Austin one-on-one. The US had expressed disappointment over the decision, calling it "a setback for the whole region."

The gathering comes as tensions in the South China Sea have increased due to Beijing's growing military presence. ASEAN member nations such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei are locked in competing claims with China in the sea.

Other regional issues addressed during the talks include the Korean Peninsula, the Russia-Ukraine war, and wars in the Middle East. The US pledged support for ASEAN and emphasized its "serious concern" about destabilizing actions by China against Philippine and other coastal state vessels.

China's growing assertiveness has slowed progress on a code of conduct governing behavior in the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming almost entirely as its own territory. Talks have been hindered by disagreements over whether the pact should be binding.

In related news, ASEAN members Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia are also engaged in disputes with China in the sea. Chinese vessels have clashed repeatedly with Philippine and other coastal state vessels, while Vietnam charged that Chinese forces assaulted its fishermen in disputed areas.

The civil war in Myanmar was also top of mind during the talks, as observers estimate that less than half of the country is under military control. The ASEAN group's credibility has been severely tested by the ongoing conflict.

Representatives from high-level bureaucrats have represented Myanmar at ASEAN meetings since 2021, but the issue remains a point of contention.