Southeast Asian defense chiefs met with China, the United States, and other partner nations in Laos for security talks amid increasing confrontations over Beijing's claim to the South China Sea. The closed-door talks included US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, despite Dong's refusal to meet with Austin one-on-one. The ASEAN meetings come as member nations are concerned about the change in American administrations and the ongoing maritime disputes with China. The meetings also addressed tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the Russia-Ukraine war, and conflicts in the Middle East.