NOTE -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D, Illinois) was born in Bangkok and decorated US Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs on a combat mission.

From AP / Khaosod English

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, grilling President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary over whether he had the “breadth and depth of knowledge” needed to lead international negotiations, asked Pete Hegseth if could name one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, describe what type of agreement the U.S. had with the countries and how many nations were in the bloc.

Hegseth responded at the heated Senate confirmation hearing that he couldn’t tell Duckworth the exact number of ASEAN nations, but that “I know we have allies in South Korea and Japan in AUKUS (a pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.) with Australia.”

“None of those three countries are in ASEAN,” responded Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois. “I suggest you do a little homework.”

ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. An 11th country, East Timor, is set to join soon.

Established in 1967, its goal is to promote regional economic and security cooperation, leveraging a combined population of more than 650 million people with a GDP of more than $3 trillion.

Duckworth’s question came after Hegseth had noted the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, a region where China’s influence has been rapidly growing and Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pressing territorial claims.

ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei are locked in maritime disputes with China over its claims of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most crucial waterways for shipping. Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.

Continues at

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/asean/2025/01/15/question-on-asean-stumped-hegseth-at-senate-hearing-why-is-it-important/

And, he was so smug and arrogant as he answered her question... As many have said, he doesnt care about all this protocol, or the fact that HE is unqualified because....... the Fix is in, and the job is his.....

Now the question is, WHAT damage he will do on the job, and How long will he last ?    

His imminent failure is on Trump, and the GOP's  shoulders

On 1/16/2025 at 5:56 AM, reader said:

ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei are locked in maritime disputes with China

That's inaccurate declaration. All 4 countries "are locked" in dispute "all against all", and for example Vietnam has the most questions about this matter for the Philippines, while Vietnam has already signed a settlement agreement with China.

The West has made some attempts to channel these unresolved issues towards China, but within the framework of ASEAN and BRICS, these attempts have been neutralized and smoothed over.

4 hours ago, Moses said:

The West has made some attempts to channel these unresolved issues towards China, but within the framework of ASEAN and BRICS, these attempts have been neutralized and smoothed over.

You ignore, of course, China's claim to ownership of waters in the South China sea as delineating by the "nine-dash line." That's not channeled through west.

But this doesn't surprise readers here.

Hegseth did promise sobriety, serving as Sec of Defense.