Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Friday with his counterparts in South Korea and Japan, vowing to strengthen military ties with both countries amid regional security concerns, according to their respective defense ministries.

Japan received reassurances of continued close ties with its U.S. ally including confirmation that a security treaty covers the disputed Senkaku Islands from new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Jan.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Japan's Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani agreed in a phone call Friday to continue efforts to strengthen the countries' alliance, Tokyo said.

New US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani agreed in a phone call Friday to continue efforts to strengthen the countries' alliance, Tokyo said.

That’s called “jointness,” about which Hegseth knows little. He touted his Army background in the National Guard as a qualification to be secretary of Defense, but just as different cultures, goals and methods divide allies in a coalition, they also divide military branches.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday he is seeking to hold talks with new U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as J

The newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, confirmed that the U.S.-Japan defense treaty covers the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

From the arrest of South Korea’s Yoon to a Japanese pop star’s sex scandal, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

In a mostly party-line result that saw no Democrats vote for Hegseth, three Republicans — including former GOP leader Mitch McConnell — also voted no.

Every one of Hegseth’s predecessors emphasized unity and a diverse military as key to national progress and defense.

For a man who's courted so much controversy, whose first name became a conservative chorus on X and whose nomination prompted questions of "Who?!" at happy hours, Pete Hegseth's public views on China,

The 44-year-old veteran and former Fox News host was sworn into office Saturday after facing allegations of sexual misconduct, misogynistic and racist comments, and mismanaged finances at two organizations.