- A stronger network of allies essential to deterring aggression: Hegseth.
- He says arms sales between the United States and Taiwan remain unchanged.
- He adds that the United States is ready to restart attacks against Iran if a deal is not reached.
SINGAPORE: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Asian allies to increase military spending to counter China’s growing power and prevent its dominance in the region, warning of “legitimate alarm” over its rapid military build-up.
Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum for defense, military and diplomatic leaders, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deterring aggression and preserving the balance of power.
“There is legitimate alarm regarding China’s historic military build-up and expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would upset the regional balance of power,” Hegseth said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and call into question the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies.”
The United States expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP as it promised a $1.5 trillion investment in its military, the Pentagon chief said.
Hegseth emphasized that allies want stability, not escalation.
“What they want, and what America offers, is disciplined strength, firm resolve, and leadership confident enough to speak and walk softly while wielding a big stick.”
Hegseth also took a measured tone on U.S.-China relations, saying that relations are “better than they have been in many years,” and that more frequent military-to-military engagement helps manage tensions.
“We meet more frequently with our Chinese counterparts while maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication.”
Zhou Bo, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University and a retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of the Chinese delegation, described US-China relations as “complicated.”
However, he said Hegseth took “a much better tone” this year than last, and attributed the change to Trump’s visit to China.
“Both sides have open communication channels, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world believes,” Zhou said.
China, whose defense minister will be absent from the dialogue for the second year in a row, accused Hegseth last year of making “defamatory” comments.
‘No use’
Hegseth echoed President Donald Trump’s long-standing demand that allies shoulder more of their own defense costs. Trump has clearly said that European and NATO partners should reduce dependence on Washington.
“The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of rich nations is over,” Hegseth said. “We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone is in the game. No freeloaders.”
Hegseth praised the contributions of allies such as South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to strengthen its defenses.
Tokyo and Washington “must do their part to strengthen the alliance between the United States and Japan,” he said.
Ready to restart attacks against Iran
On the Middle East conflict, Hegseth said the United States is ready to resume attacks on Iran if diplomacy fails, as negotiators in Washington and Tehran work to bridge major differences blocking a deal.
“Our ability to restart if necessary… we are more than capable,” Hegseth said. He added that Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “robust deal” to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump said Friday he would convene his advisers in the secure environment of the White House to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end the war with Iran.
Hegseth also rejected concerns that the conflict would distract from Asia-Pacific priorities.
“We can do two things at once.”
Decision to sell arms to Taiwan
Asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth downplayed concerns that a multibillion-dollar package could be affected as the United States reduces its weapons stockpiles amid the Middle East conflict. “We feel very good about our reserves and the way we use them,” he said.
Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, has been waiting for the United States to approve an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion.
Trump sowed uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this month, that he was undecided whether he would approve the package.
Any decision on future arms sales would fall to President Trump, Hegseth said, signaling no change in Washington’s long-standing approach despite recent engagement with Beijing.
“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth said. “There has been no change in our status.”
