U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed regret that his Chinese counterpart chose not to hold talks with him during meetings of Southeast Asian defense chiefs in Laos, calling it a setback for the entire region.

Many Southeast Asian nations are looking for assurances from the U.S. before President-elect Donald Trump's return to power in January.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed regret Wednesday that his Chinese counterpart chose not to hold talks with him during meetings of Southeast Asian defense chiefs in Laos, calling it a setback for the entire region.

Southeast Asian defense chiefs and representatives are meeting in Laos for security talks at a time of increasing maritime disputes with China in the Asia-Pacific and as the transition to a new U.S. p