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Defense leaders from Southeast Asian countries convened in Laos with counterparts from China, the U.S., and other nations to discuss regional security as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Minsters’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on November 21, 2024.

The two-day meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers was attended by representatives from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia, among others. ASEAN includes 10 member countries in Southeast Asia — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The closed-door talks included U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, though a planned one-on-one meeting between the two was rejected by China a day earlier.

The discussions come at a time when ASEAN nations are closely monitoring the U.S. transition to a new administration, amid heightened maritime disputes with China. The U.S. has strongly backed a “free and open Indo-Pacific” under outgoing U.S. President Biden, but uncertainty looms over how the incoming Trump administration will address the South China Sea.

South China Sea dominates security talks

The South China Sea was a central focus during defense talks in Laos, as regional tensions over Beijing’s increasingly assertive claims to the disputed waters continue to escalate. Despite repeated assurances from China that it does not seek to dominate the region, its expansive territorial claims are fueling confrontations with several ASEAN nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

This year, clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified. In response, the United States has ramped up security cooperation with the Philippines. Recently, the U.S. and the Philippines signed a military intelligence-sharing agreement, strengthening defense ties as they aim to counter China’s growing influence.

During his latest visit, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned China that the U.S. is committed to defending the Philippines if its forces are attacked in the disputed waters.

The ongoing maritime disputes underscore the fragile security environment in the South China Sea, where competing territorial claims continue to strain relations between China and its Southeast Asian neighbors. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Malaysia have agreed to enhance their bilateral ties and explore further cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region.

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar overshadowed the talks as the group struggled to address the crisis. Myanmar’s military junta, excluded from meetings since 2021, faces continued resistance from pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias.

US, Japan, Philippines, Australia, and South Korea discuss cooperation

Defense chiefs of South Korea, the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia met for the first time on November 21 to discuss multilateral cooperation on the sidelines of the ASEAN defense ministerial meeting.

Australian Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underlined their shared commitment to advance a vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected. They also agreed to increase multilateral cooperation for regional security and stability.

US reaffirms support for prosperous and secure ASEAN

The United States has long recognized the strategic importance of Southeast Asia, a region central to global security and economic stability.

The Department of Defense statement said that the U.S. “aims to support a Southeast Asian region free of coercion where safety, security, sovereignty, self-determination, and prosperity are shepherded by ASEAN centrality.”

Since 2010, U.S. defense leaders have consistently engaged with ASEAN through initiatives like the ADMM-Plus. Key achievements in U.S.-ASEAN defense relations include:

• Strategic Partnerships: In 2023, the U.S. elevated its relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking a new phase of closer cooperation.
• Defense Investment: Over $17 billion in foreign military sales have been delivered to ASEAN nations, enhancing defense capabilities to address regional security challenges.
• Annual Exercises: The U.S. conducts over 40 bilateral and multilateral defense exercises with Southeast Asian nations annually, demonstrating a commitment to interoperability and readiness.
• Maritime Security: Through initiatives like the Maritime Security Initiative, the U.S. has invested over $475 million to enhance maritime domain awareness across seven ASEAN member states since 2016.
• Military Education: The U.S. has provided world-class military education to over 76,000 Southeast Asian students, strengthening defense capabilities.

I joined defense ministers from across the Indo-Pacific for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus today in Laos. Our countries are working together in support of a shared commitment to peace, security, and stability in the region. pic.twitter.com/0DnCWAKUsd

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 21, 2024

Building on this defense cooperation, the U.S. is focused on strengthening Southeast Asia’s defense capacity across several key areas, including enhancing domain awareness in air, maritime, cyber, and information domains to protect sovereignty and counter illegal activities.

During his visit to Laos for the ADMM-Plus, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held a series of with his Asian counterparts. On November 20, he met with defense leaders from ASEAN member states, including Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and New Zealand. Austin also engaged in bilateral talks with New Zealand’s Defense Minister Judith Collins, Laos’s Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath, Cambodia’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha, and Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, addressing regional security concerns, defense cooperation, and shared goals for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Chinese defense minister calls for regional unity at ASEAN Defense Summit

At the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Laos, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun addressed regional security concerns, emphasizing the need for cooperation and unity among Asia-Pacific nations. While acknowledging that the region remains generally stable, Dong warned against the dangers of becoming entangled in geopolitical conflicts and urged countries to work together to “protect our beautiful homeland.”

Dong expressed China’s commitment to supporting ASEAN centrality and enhancing the region’s defense cooperation framework. “China is willing to work with all parties to firmly consolidate ASEAN centrality, and support the improvement and upgrading of the existing cooperation framework,” Dong said. He called for resolving disputes through dialogue and not provoking conflict, resorting to force, forming military blocs, or bringing in external forces.

The Chinese defense chief also advocated for deeper defense and security collaboration, with a focus on implementing the Global Security Initiative. He highlighted the importance of expanding maritime security cooperation, particularly with a long-term vision, to safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

China declines meeting with US defense chief

China rejected a proposed meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun at the ASEAN meeting. Austin had sought to engage with his Chinese counterpart amid an ongoing effort to maintain open military communication between the two countries.

However, Chinese officials reportedly cited the recent $2 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, which includes missile and radar systems, as the reason for declining the meeting. Beijing has expressed constant frustration over U.S. support for Taiwan amid rising military and diplomatic tensions in the region.

“I regret that the PRC chose not to meet here. The PRC decision is a setback for the whole region. As I’ve said consistently, the right time to meet is anytime now,” Austin told reporters in a press briefing. In response, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said “The U.S. side cannot undermine China’s core interests on the Taiwan issue while conducting exchanges with the Chinese military as if nothing had happened.”

The rejection came just days after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Peru, where they had “candid, constructive, [and] wide ranging” talks.

Austin is on his final official tour of the Indo-Pacific region before the Trump administration assumes power in January 2025. He began his trip in Australia, followed by a visit to the Philippines. Next, he traveled to Laos to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, with his final stop in Fiji—marking the first-ever visit by a U.S. defense secretary to the island nation.