Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, left, gestures as Laos' Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath stands by during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Laos' Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath addresses the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun speaks during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin drinks water during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Laos' Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath, right, welcomes US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, left, shakes hand with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh as they arrive to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrivesto attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)