US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, during which he outlined US foreign policy goals for Asia.
Hegseth said at the defense summit that the United States wants a “stable balance” in Asia. He said that no country, including China, should be able to establish undisputed dominance over the region.
America wants ‘favorable balance of power’
The Pentagon chief said, “What we want… is a really stable balance that works for Americans as well as our allies – a friendly but sustainable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and put the security or prosperity of our country and our allies in question.”
He said there is “reasonable alarm” across the Pacific about China’s military buildup, but stressed that Washington does not want “unnecessary confrontation in the region.”
“When we look at the region as a whole today, there are sobering warnings about China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” Hegseth said.
However, he stressed that relations with Beijing “are better than they have been for many years”, citing the increasing number of military-to-military interactions as an example.
Richard Walker, DW’s international editor in chief, said Taiwan was not mentioned once in Hegseth’s speech. Asked about the stalled arms sales deal with Taiwan, the Pentagon chief replied that the decision would depend on President Donald Trump.
America needs ‘partners, not protectors’
The Defense Secretary also said that the US expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of their GDP.
He said, “The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of rich countries is over… We need partners, not patrons.” “We don’t have a strong coalition unless everyone is in the game. No freebies.”
Since returning to office, Trump has demanded that US allies, particularly NATO countries, increase their defense spending and reduce their dependence on Washington.
Hegseth also stressed that the United States has substantial stockpiles of weapons and is “very much capable” of resuming war with Iran.
DW Asia Pacific bureau chief George Mattes said the key phrase in Hegseth’s speech was that there is less need for Shangri-La talks and more for military buildup and deterrence. “I think it’s a slightly troubling scenario for Southeast Asians,” Mattes said.
The Shangri-La Dialogue brings together top defense officials and experts from about 45 countries. The summit has historically provided an opportunity for open debate and behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico
Don’t let algorithms hide news. If you rely on our team for reliable reporting, please take a moment Select us as your favorite source on Google by clicking here and pressing the “Star” or “Favorite” buttonThat’s why you’ll always see our verified news first.