Hegseth praises Asian allies for ‘burden-sharing,’ calls out China’s role in the region
Hegseth said allies should spend more on defense and warned China’s military buildup could upset the Pacific balance, while praising stronger cooperation in Asia.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of "rightful alarm" over China's historic military buildup, urging Asian allies to rapidly ramp up their own military spending to preserve the regional balance of power.
- Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth set a target for Indo-Pacific allies to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, mirroring the Trump administration's aggressive domestic pledge of a $1.5 trillion investment in the U.S. military.
- The Pentagon chief echoed President Donald Trump's "no freeloading" policy, bluntly stating that the era of the U.S. subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over and warning that deep industrial collaboration and expedited arms sales will be reserved for true partners rather than "protectorates."
- Despite the stern warning on defense spending, Hegseth struck a surprisingly measured tone on U.S.-China ties, noting that relations are "better than they have been in many years" due to more frequent military-to-military communication to manage potential escalations.
- The address was highly notable for completely omitting any mention of Taiwan, a sharp pivot from Hegseth's speech at the same forum last year where he warned a Chinese attack on the island could be "imminent"—a shift analysts link to Trump's recent suggestion that proposed Taiwan arms packages could serve as a "negotiating chip" with Beijing.
187 Articles
187 Articles
Hegseth walks tightrope on China, urging Asian allies to share burden against threats
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toned down his criticism of China during remarks to Pacific leaders and diplomats on Saturday, weeks after President Trump participated in a bilateral summit in Beijing. In remarks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore, the Defense secretary championed joint efforts from the U.S. and China…
Los Angeles Times
Washington TimesHegseth tones down warnings about China but says U.S. remains committed to Pacific security
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, attending a defense and security conference in Singapore, softened past comments that described China as an imminent threat.
The Secretary of War of the United States avoided the stakes of Taiwan and Iran in the face of anxious Asian countries at the Shangri Dialogue, the main forum on security in the region.
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