While the US defence secretary struck a more conciliatory tone on China, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the seabed was “becoming a battlefield”.

While the US defence chief gave gung-ho speech at last year’s conference, post-summit reset in ties may prompt moderation.

SINGAPORE: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Asian allies to ramp up military spending to counter China’s growing power and prevent its dominance in the region,…