Defense chiefs and representatives from Southeast Asian nations are convening in Vientiane, Laos, for security talks amidst escalating maritime disputes with China in the Asia-Pacific region. The meetings, hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are crucial as the transition to a new U.S. president approaches.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is participating in the discussions, where attendees are seeking assurances ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's return to power in January. Recent meetings in Australia and Japan reaffirmed support for ASEAN and expressed concerns over destabilizing actions by China in the East and South China Seas.
