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The United States and China’s top defense officials have met for a face-to-face meeting in Malaysia.

Getting into it: The meeting between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-PLUS) in Kuala Lumpur. It came just one day after President Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where both leaders agreed to ease trade tensions and improve high-level communication.

The 75-minute discussion focused heavily on flashpoints like Taiwan, the South China Sea, and broader regional security. According to Hegseth, the US emphasized that while it does not seek confrontation, it will not hesitate to defend its interests and support allies in the region. In a statement, Hegseth said he “highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and emphasized US concerns about China’s activities in the South China Sea, around Taiwan, and toward our allies and partners.” He also described the talks as “good and constructive,” adding that they didn’t agree on everything, but the conversation was a step forward.

Admiral Dong Jun had a different tone following the talks, urging the US to act with caution, particularly on the Taiwan issue. According to a statement from China’s Ministry of National Defense, Dong told Hegseth that the US should “oppose Taiwan independence” and “exercise caution in its words and actions.” He reiterated China’s stance that Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland is “an unstoppable historical trend.”

Dong also expressed hope that the US would back up its verbal commitments to peace with real policy decisions on peace and security, the Chinese release read.