Meeting with defense ministers from the Philippines, Thailand, and five other countries, photos show sharply different attitudes towards China, with Hegseth being very careful and respectful!
From October 31 to November 1, the ASEAN Plus Defense Ministers' Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth held a series of meetings with representatives from multiple countries, including China.
From the information revealed at the scene, Hegseth appeared relaxed when interacting with the defense ministers of the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, but showed a serious expression during the meeting with China, appearing cautious and very respectful.
Among them, Hegseth seemed most relaxed during his meeting with the Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro. The U.S.-Philippine military cooperation is supported by clear figures. The U.S. already has the right to use nine military bases in the Philippines.
Additionally, the two countries have completed the alliance readiness action plan, which will accelerate the advancement of key defense priorities over the next two years. The Philippines basically accepts all U.S. demands. Hegseth's contemptuous attitude is also evident.
Indonesia has clearly stated its policy of non-alignment, is friendly with China and Russia, and respects the United States. Thailand, although it has long-term military cooperation with the U.S., has seen continuous deepening of Sino-Thailand military relations in recent years. It is clear that ASEAN countries have shown a distinct pragmatic attitude in balancing relations with both China and the U.S.
When facing an old opponent, Hegseth would be hard-pressed to relax, especially since the Nimitz aircraft carrier recently crashed two planes, and the real reason remains unexplained. In contrast, China's Fujian aircraft carrier has been commissioned, and a large number of new fighter jets are emerging. U.S. arms dealers are still waiting for China's supply of rare earth metals. All these make Hegseth very cautious.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847562206609411/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.