Pete Hegseth looked great. That square jaw remained at a constant determined jut.

Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will publicly face senators on Tuesday for the first time after weeks of privately pushing back on criticism over his qualifications and personal past.

The 10-nation bloc, known as ASEAN, has been useful for the United States in countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Many member nations have territorial disputes with China, which has become increasingly assertive in pressing those claims.