Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his Chinese counterpart this week that the U.S. isn’t seeking a conflict with Beijing and is not pursuing regime change.

His conversation Tuesday with Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Adm. Dong Jun, the first since Mr. Hegseth took charge at the Pentagon, comes amid warming relations between Beijing and Moscow.

In a statement released Wednesday, Mr. Hegseth told Adm. Dong that the U.S. has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific region and will resolutely protect them.

“Overall, the Secretary and Minister exchanged views in a candid and constructive manner,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. “They agreed to further discussions.”

Chinese military officials described the video call as a “candid, pragmatic and constructive exchange.” They said President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attach great importance to the professional relationship between the U.S. military and the People’s Liberation Army.

“We should promote exchanges between the two militaries based on the consensus reached by the heads of state,” PLA officials said in a statement about the video call. “We must correct our understanding from a military strategic perspective, accurately define the relationship between the two militaries, and build a stable and positive military relationship based on equality, respect, peaceful coexistence, and development.”

Beijing has pursued a policy of aggressive expansion in the South China sea, including the militarization of artificial islands and the harassment of other nations’ vessels in contested waters. The actions are part of the communist regime’s push to assert sweeping territorial claims over nearly the entire sea.

“China is committed to working with regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and firmly opposes the infringement and provocation of individual countries and the deliberate incitement of chaos by non-regional countries,” Chinese military officials said.

Mr. Trump signed an executive order rebranding the Department of Defense as the War Department. It also permits Mr. Hegseth to use the title of secretary of war, but it doesn’t formally rename the department because that would require congressional approval.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.