- Stronger network of allies essential to deter aggression: Hegseth.
- Says US-Taiwan arms sales remain unchanged.
- Adds US ready to restart attacks on Iran if no deal is 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 “justifiable alarm” over its rapid military build-up.
Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum for defense leaders, militaries and diplomats, said a stronger, more self-reliant network of allies is essential to deter aggression and maintain the balance of power.
“There is justifiable alarm about China’s historical military build-up and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” Hegseth said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and maintain the security or prosperity of our nation and our concerned allies.”
The United States expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP as it pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its military, the Pentagon chief said.
Hegseth stressed allies want stability, not escalation.
“What they want, and what the United States is delivering, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to talk and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”
Hegseth also struck a measured tone on U.S.-China ties, saying relations are “better than they’ve been in many years,” with more frequent military-to-military engagement helping to manage tensions.
“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication.”
Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired senior colonel of the People’s Liberation Army who was part of the Chinese delegation, described US-China relations as “complicated”.
Nevertheless, he said Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last, and attributed the shift to Trump’s visit to China.
“Both sides have open communication channels, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be,” Zhou said.
China, whose defense minister is skipping the dialogue for the second year in a row, last year accused Hegseth of making “insulting” remarks.
‘No free loading’
Hegseth echoed President Donald Trump’s longstanding demand that allies shoulder more of their own defense costs. Trump has pointedly said that European and NATO partners should reduce dependence on Washington.
“The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth said. “We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”
Hegseth praised the contributions of allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to strengthen its defenses.
Tokyo and Washington “each must pull our weight to strengthen the US-Japan alliance,” he said.
Ready to restart attack on Iran
On the Middle East conflict, Hegseth said the United States is ready to resume attacks on Iran if diplomacy fails, as negotiators from Washington and Tehran work to bridge major disagreements blocking a deal.
“Our ability to resume if necessary … we are more than capable,” Hegseth said. He added that Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “strong deal” to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.
Trump said Friday he would convene advisers in a secure White House environment to make a “final decision” on a proposal to end the Iran war.
Hegseth also pushed back on concerns that the conflict would distract from Asia-Pacific priorities.
“We can do two things at once.”
Decision on arms sales to Taiwan
Asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth downplayed concerns that a multibillion-dollar package could be affected as the United States draws down its weapons stockpile amid the Middle East conflict. “We feel very good about our stocks and how 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 Chinese President Xi Jinping this month that he had doubts about whether to approve the package.
Any decision on future arms sales will rest with President Trump, said Hegseth, who signaled no shift in Washington’s long-standing approach despite recent cooperation with Beijing.
“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth said. “There is no change in our status.”
