The United States is ramping up its defense cooperation with Southeast Asia to counterbalance communist China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Although Austin did not explicitly name China, the initiatives outlined in the Defense Vision Statement clearly reflect U.S. efforts to counter Beijing’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. The plan focuses on enhancing domain awareness, bolstering maritime and air security, and deepening regional military cooperation to address challenges arising from the Chinese regime’s assertive actions.
Balikatan, primarily involving the United States and the Philippines, focuses on humanitarian assistance, disaster response, counterterrorism, and conventional warfare. Nations such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea have occasionally joined as participants or observers.
Cobra Gold, co-hosted by Thailand and the United States, is one of Asia’s largest multinational military exercises. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore participate in this exercise, which emphasizes amphibious assaults, disaster relief, and multilateral cooperation on regional security.
Similarly, Super Garuda Shield, co-led by Indonesia and the United States, focuses on joint operational readiness, including amphibious, airborne, and land operations, with contributions from partners such as Japan, Australia, and Singapore.
Key outcomes of the visit included the signing of a General Security of Military Information Agreement to enhance intelligence sharing and the inauguration of a new Combined Coordination Center to improve joint operations. The United States also committed to bolstering the Philippines’ defense capabilities with innovative technologies, including unmanned surface vessels, to enhance maritime domain awareness and operational readiness.
As Vietnam diversifies its defense procurement away from its historical reliance on Russian arms, it is deepening ties with the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Europe to modernize its military. Vietnam’s refusal to purchase Chinese weapons, driven by territorial disputes in the South China Sea, further aligns its defense strategy with ASEAN nations and the United States.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun was conspicuously absent from the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, a development linked to an ongoing anti-corruption investigation within China’s military. The probe allegedly is targeting corruption within military procurement, including the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force. Dong’s investigation is particularly notable, as he was personally appointed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Dong is the third consecutive Chinese defense minister to face corruption allegations, following the removal of his predecessors under similar circumstances. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed these reports as speculative, Dong’s exclusion from both the Central Military Commission and the State Council earlier this year further fueled uncertainty surrounding his status.
The Chinese regime’s growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, has inadvertently paved the way for stronger U.S.–ASEAN defense ties. As Beijing’s actions continue to challenge the sovereignty and security of regional nations, many ASEAN members have sought to deepen their partnerships with the United States to counter these threats. The absence of Dong from the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Laos only underscored the widening gap between China and its neighbors.
