At his confirmation hearing, the defense-secretary nominee looked like a man who understood that the fix was in.

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.

Pete Hegseth looked great. That square jaw remained at a constant determined jut. President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Defense Department and its 3 million troops and civilians walked into the Capitol Hill hearing room along with the wife he described as “beautiful” and “humble,