China's Defense Ministry Urges Washington to Strengthen Mutual Trust

China's Defense Minister called for building "mutual trust" with the United States during talks with his American counterpart in Malaysia, signaling both nations want to ease military tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting comes as both countries try to manage their complex relationship while competing for influence in Southeast Asia.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that both sides need to "strengthen trust and dispel uncertainty" during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Dong pushed for both militaries to "explore the right path for understanding," according to a statement from China's Defense Ministry.

The defense talks happened just one day after Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met at a summit in South Korea. Both meetings show how the two superpowers are trying to keep communication channels open even as they disagree on trade, Taiwan, and military presence in the South China Sea.

The defense ministers met on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian defense gathering. These ASEAN defense meetings have become important venues for U.S.-China military diplomacy, especially as both countries compete for partnerships with Southeast Asian nations.

Military-to-military talks between Washington and Beijing often focus on preventing accidents or miscalculations in the South China Sea, where both navies operate regularly. The U.S. conducts freedom of navigation patrols in waters that China claims, while China has built military installations on artificial islands in the disputed area.

For defense contractors and regional allies, stable U.S.-China military communication helps reduce the risk of an arms race or unexpected conflict that could disrupt global supply chains and trade routes. Southeast Asian countries particularly want both powers to maintain dialogue rather than force them to choose sides.

The timing matters because Trump's return to office has created uncertainty about U.S. policy toward China. During his previous term, Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods but also maintained personal relationships with Chinese leaders.