KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Southeast Asian nations to bolster their maritime capabilities to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Speaking at a meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts, Hegseth emphasized the destabilizing impact of China’s recent activities, including vessel ramming and the use of water cannons. The South China Sea remains a highly contested region, with China claiming nearly the entire area, while ASEAN members such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei assert overlapping claims. The Philippines, a key U.S. ally, has faced frequent confrontations with Chinese maritime forces. Hegseth criticized China’s recent designation of Scarborough Shoal, seized from the Philippines in 2012, as a ‘nature reserve,’ calling it a tactic to expand territorial claims. He urged ASEAN to accelerate the conclusion of a Code of Conduct with China and enhance joint surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms. He also proposed a ‘shared maritime domain awareness’ system to ensure collective security. Additionally, Hegseth welcomed plans for an ASEAN-U.S. maritime exercise in December, aimed at reinforcing freedom of navigation and sovereign rights. China, however, dismissed U.S. criticism, accusing Washington of provoking tensions and interfering in regional affairs. Chinese officials labeled the Philippines a ‘troublemaker’ following recent joint naval and air drills with the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, which Beijing claimed undermined regional stability.