Defence Strategy Criticised as Hollow Amid Rising Indo-Pacific Threats
Australia risks being caught unprepared amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions, with a new report warning that the Albanese government's defence posture leans too heavily on long-term promises while ignoring immediate threats.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's (ASPI) Cost of Defence 2025–26 report, released on May 29, delivers a blunt assessment of Labor's approach.
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Time Magazine
42 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Pete Hegseth Talked a Big Game to Indo-Pacific Allies—but Trump Mistrust Runs Deep
Against the backdrop of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance's jaw-dropping polemic against European democracies at February's Munich Security Conference, this was a welcome return to sense, if not sanity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a powerful though measured speech at Singapore's IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, pointedly calling out 'Communist China' for its 'massive military build-up, … grey zone tactics, and hybrid warfare,' while also hailing the strength and importance of America's regional alliances and using the word 'peace' 27 times. 'President Trump is a leader of peace, a man of peace, a force for peace,' Hegseth told the scores of Asia-Pacific defense and military chiefs crammed into the ballroom at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel. 'And together, we will achieve that peace through strength.' Hegseth repeatedly called the Indo-Pacific 'our priority theater' and, in a marked departure from Vance, actually praised European nations for hiking defense spending as an example that their Asian counterparts should emulate. 'It was quite surprising that he used Europe as a reference in terms of GDP [defense] spending,' Micael Johansson, president and CEO of the Swedish arms manufacturer Saab, told TIME. 'But it was a good speech and more collaborative than I had expected.' As Hegseth described it, American defense policy was now that Europe's security would be left to Europeans, while the U.S. was focusing its rebuilt military might—augmented by a $1 trillion defense spend next year, a 13% year-on-year rise—on the Indo-Pacific. This would focus on boosting America's forward force deployment, helping allies and partners strengthen their security capabilities, and rebuilding defense industrial bases including within friendly nations. 'A strong, resolute, and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,' said Hegseth. Hegseth also unleashed several broadsides against China, accusing strongman President Xi Jinping of having 'ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027,' with the former Fox News anchor warning that an assault on the self-ruling island—which politically split from the mainland following China's 1945–49 civil war—'could be imminent.' These remarks drew the inevitable rebuke from Beijing, which issued a statement saying Hegseth 'vilified China with defamatory allegations' that were 'filled with provocations and intended to sow discord.' Beijing also warned that Washington 'must never play with fire on [the Taiwan] question,' which is 'entirely China's internal affair.' Notably, China's defense minister stayed away from the annual security summit for the first time since 2019. Admiral Dong Jun was rumored to have been under a corruption investigation amid a sweeping purge of high-ranking PLA officers, though latest reports suggest that he's been cleared. The Chinese delegation that did attend treated Hegseth's accusations with scorn. 'He used a very strong, harsh tone, which surprised me a little, and it's unconstructive and hypocritical,' says Prof. Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Beijing's Tsinghua University. 'Because the U.S. is imposing high tariffs on regional countries, so how can you expect them to partner with you against another economic power?' Indeed, Trump's internecine global trade war was the glaring elephant in the room. Asked about the 'reciprocal tariffs' imposed in April, Hegseth joked: 'I am happily in the business of tanks, not trade, and I will leave that discussion to the man who knows how to do it best.' Which was the ultimate takeaway for the brass hats present. Hegseth's statement of commitment to the region and working with allies was broadly welcomed but hedged by the chaotic approach of the guy he reports to. Indeed, Hegseth showed his hand when he admitted: 'My job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf.' Delegates in Singapore were only too aware that today, more than during any other U.S. administration, power rests with just one man, whose constant policy flip-flops— embarrassing Zelensky before lambasting Putin; ripping up one Iranian nuclear deal before seeking another; hiking and pausing tariffs—have conjured a bevy of TACO, 'or Trump always chickens out,' memes as well as the impression that American words have never been cheaper. 'I'm quite sure it's just talk,' one European delegate said of Hegseth's speech. A Bangladeshi military officer agreed: 'It still feels like Trump is a more inward-looking than global President.'
CNBC
3 hours ago
- CNBC
China says the U.S. undermined Geneva trade deal after Trump accuses Beijing of violations
China on Monday refuted Washington's claims that it had broken the Geneva trade agreement, instead accusing the U.S. for breaching deal terms, signaling talks between the worlds top two economies have taken a turn for the worst. Trade frictions between Washington and Beijing have flared up after a hiatus following a meeting between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart in Geneva, Switzerland, that had led them to suspend most tariffs on each other goods for 90 days. The Donald Trump administration has ratcheted up export restrictions on semiconductor design software and chemicals to China, while announcing it would revoke visas for Chinese students, drawing ire from Beijing. Those measures "seriously undermine" the deal reached in Geneva, a Chinese commerce department spokesperson said. China, meanwhile, has kept a firm grip on its rare earths exports, contrary to Washington's expectations. "The U.S. government has continued to unilaterally provoke new economic and trade frictions, increasing the uncertainty and instability in the bilateral economic and trade relations," the spokesperson said. Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of violating its preliminary trade agreement with the U.S. In a social media post, Trump wrote, "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" The accusations were "seriously contrary to the facts," the Chinese spokesperson said Monday, claiming that Beijing had "strictly implemented and actively upheld" the agreements, citing its steps to cancel and suspend certain tariff and non-tariff measures announced in April in response to Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs. Bessent said in a Fox News interview last week that bilateral trade talks were "a bit stalled," requiring the two countries' leaders to speak directly. On Sunday, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett suggested that Trump and China's President Xi Jinping could have a conversation about trade as soon as this week. Tensions between the U.S. and China have risen beyond just trade. Addressing the annual defense summit Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday in Singapore, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned that the threat from China's mounting military pressure in the Indo-Pacific region was "real" and "imminent," urging allied nations to boost defense spending to push back on Beijing. China's defense minister was absent at this year's summit, a rare departure from its tradition of dispatching the top military official to the annual event for the first time since 2019. In a statement responding to Hegseth's speech on Sunday, a spokesperson for China's defense ministry criticized Hegseth's remarks for "instigating cold-war mentality" and "severely challenging China's sovereignty and rights." China's embassy in Singapore said in a social media post on Saturday, following Hegseth's speech, that "the U.S. itself is the biggest 'troublemaker' for regional peace and stability."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Weird' signing of Storm player that could force Cobbo and Staggs out of Broncos
Questions are being asked about why the Brisbane Broncos still haven't confirmed the signing of Grant Anderson from the Melbourne Storm, or a supposed contract extension for Kotoni Staggs. Reports emerged last November that Anderson had signed with the Broncos for 2026, and Storm coach Craig Bellamy confirmed the outside back's departure in April. But the Broncos are still yet to formally announce Anderson's arrival. Coach Michael Maguire has stated on numerous occasions that he'd love to keep both Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs, and a contract extension for Staggs is said to be all-but signed. However that too is yet to be confirmed, and it's led to renewed speculation about what the future holds. With the Broncos under immense salary cap pressure, it's likely they'll eventually have to part ways with one of Staggs or Cobbo. Cobbo has been linked to NRL expansion teams PNG and Perth, and could become a marquee signing for one of the new franchises. As for Staggs, rumours have been rife for months that he's agreed to a new deal to remain in Brisbane on $2.4 million over three seasons. But the deal still hasn't been lodged with the NRL, and it's led to concerns that one of the parties (Staggs or the Broncos) might have got cold feet. With Anderson arriving in 2026 and Gehamat Shibasaki establishing himself as a first-grader, it opens up the possibility that the Broncos could look to save a heap of money by parting ways with both Staggs and Cobbo. Neither of Anderson or Shibasaki (or Jesse Arthars or Deine Mariner for that matter) would be on big contracts, meaning the Broncos could upgrade their forward pack if Cobbo and Staggs departed. There's a serious need to improve the back-row in Brisbane, with the likes of Jordan Riki, Brendan Piakura and Kobe Hetherington struggling. Speaking on Triple M radio on Sunday, leading journalist Michael Hooper said: "The funny thing with the Grant Anderson contract is it's never been formally announced. If you speak to anyone at Melbourne, they certainly believe it is going to happen, but the Broncos have never put out a formal announcement." In the same segment, James Graham asked what more Staggs has to do to earn a new deal. He said: "He must be sitting there thinking 'I carried this team last year. Why did I bust my arse? And why would they go and sign Grant Anderson in November?' Grant Anderson's agent must have thought it was a prank phone call from the Broncos." NRL pundit Anton Posa also recently described it as 'weird' that Anderson's move to the Broncos hasn't been confirmed over six months later. That's not official yet, weirdly. — Anton Posa (@antonposa) May 28, 2025 Where do you think Grant Anderson will play at Brisbane next year?Does the official GA fanclub move between clubs? — Daniel🇺🇦 (@DJT_34) March 30, 2025 We currently have Shibasaki on the other edge, killing it on a minimum contract. Grant Anderson is available and was rumoured to sign at the end of last year. The Broncos need to spend their money smarter. We have a 2nd row disaster that needs to be fixed. I love tones but ahhhh — . (@NichollsAngus) May 7, 2025 RELATED: Andrew Johns responds amid Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler rumour Brisbane Broncos coach spotted in eye-opening move in dressing rooms Brisbane-based journalist Ben Dobbin declared the Staggs deal "not done", despite the player and Broncos continually saying it's a mere formality. The Brisbane centre has reportedly 'verbally agreed' with club officials to remain, and will become one of the highest-paid centres in the NRL on $800,000 per season if the reports are correct. "Obviously I have just left that in management hands," he said last month. "They are sorting that out and I will continue playing footy with the Broncs. Hopefully it just gets sorted soon and we can get on with it. "I've always wanted to be at this club as a young kid and I've been here for almost eight years now. I don't see myself being anywhere else. I love the club and it has done a lot for me and helped me along my path and journey inside and outside of footy. Hopefully we can get something done."
