During a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense, was unable to identify any countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois questioned Hegseth about the number of countries in ASEAN and asked him to discuss the significance of at least one member nation. Watch the exchange here.
Hegseth admitted, “I couldn’t tell you the exact amount of nations in that,” while mentioning allies in South Korea, Japan, and AUKUS in Australia. Duckworth corrected him, noting that none of those countries are part of ASEAN.
Understanding ASEAN
ASEAN is a coalition of 10 countries situated near or bordering the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. This region is vital for global trade and security, with $3.4 trillion in goods passing through in 2016, making up roughly 21% of worldwide trade.
South China Sea Disputes
There are ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China claims nearly the entire area, a stance opposed by ASEAN, Japan, and the United States. In recent years, China’s economic and military activities have increased tensions in the region.
On the same day as Hegseth’s hearing, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed grave concerns about rising maritime tensions. Read more about his comments here.
Hegseth’s Background
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Hegseth for the Secretary of Defense position on November 13. Since the nomination, Hegseth’s qualifications have been scrutinized. A former captain in the Minnesota National Guard and a veteran of Afghanistan, Hegseth has been a Fox News contributor since 2014.
He has also led two veterans organizations, both criticized for financial mismanagement and allegations of sexual harassment. Details about these controversies can be found here.
The Trump transition team has yet to comment on these developments.
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