Singapore, Singapore. U.S. Defence 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. He warned of “rightful alarm” over China’s rapid military buildup.
Calls for higher spending
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, Hegseth said a stronger and more self-reliant network of allies is needed to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power.
“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup 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 hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
The U.S. expects its Asian allies and partners to raise defence spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product as Washington pledges a $1.5 trillion investment in its military, the Pentagon chief said.
“Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs,” Hegseth said, arguing the region needs greater defence capability rather than more conferences. He said allies want stability, not escalation.
“What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”
U.S.-China relations
Hegseth also took a measured tone on U.S.-China ties, saying relations are “better than they have been in many years,” and that more frequent military-to-military engagement is helping 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 People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of the Chinese delegation, described U.S.-China relations as “complicated.”