In a surprising turn during his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth struggled to name any member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), revealing a gap in his geographical knowledge that became a focal point of the proceedings.
Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth put forth a pointed question to Hegseth, inquiring about the number of countries in ASEAN and seeking insight into the significance of any one of them. Her question aimed to assess Hegseth’s understanding of key international alliances.
Hegseth’s response was less than satisfactory. “I couldn’t tell you the exact amount of nations in that,” he admitted. “But I know we have allies in South Korea, and Japan, and in AUKUS in Australia.”
Senator Duckworth promptly corrected him, noting, “None of those countries are in ASEAN,” highlighting a crucial oversight.
ASEAN, a significant political and economic coalition, comprises 10 nations in proximity to the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. This region holds substantial strategic importance, as it accounted for $3.4 trillion in goods movement in 2016, representing about 21% of global trade.
Disputes over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea persist, with China asserting control over nearly the entire area—claims contested by ASEAN members, Japan, and the United States. China’s aggressive tactics have included economic pressure and military maneuvers, raising tensions in the region.
On the same day as Hegseth’s hearing, Japan Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya voiced his “grave concern” regarding the escalating maritime tensions, as reported by Reuters.
Since his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump on November 13, Hegseth has faced scrutiny over his credentials. A former captain in the Minnesota National Guard with service in Afghanistan, Hegseth has been a Fox News contributor since 2014. His leadership of two veterans organizations, however, was marred by allegations of financial mismanagement and sexual harassment, as detailed in a New Yorker report.
The Trump transition team has not yet provided a comment on the matter.
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