Pete Hegseth calls on Asia to boost military spending in face of ‘imminent' threat from China
The US secretary of defence has called on Asian countries to boost their military spending to increase regional deterrence against China, which was 'rehearsing for the real deal' when it comes to taking over Taiwan.
Pete Hegseth, addressing the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, reiterated pledges to increase the US presence in the Indo-Pacific and outlined a range of new joint projects, including expanding access to military ship and plane repair, including in Australia.
'US allies in the Indo-Pacific can and should upgrade their own defences,' Hegseth said.
'It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific … There's no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent.'
He said Donald Trump's administration had pushed European countries to boost their defensive spending, taking on a greater 'burden' of responding to conflicts in their region, and it was time for Asian nations to do the same.
Hegseth, who in March was revealed to have told a Signal group chat that Europe was 'pathetic' and 'freeloading' on US security support in the region, told the Singapore conference it was 'hard to believe' he was now saying this, but Asian countries should 'look to allies in Europe as a newfound example'.
'Deterrence doesn't come on the cheap … time is of the essence.'
He said the renewed European focus on their region – particularly the Russia-Ukraine war – allowed the US to shift focus to its 'priority theatre' in the Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth said the US did not seek to 'pressure' Asian countries to 'embrace or adopt policies or ideologies', but instead wanted to 'work with you where our shared interests align for peace and prosperity'.
'We're not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues,' he said. 'But a threat gathers.
'We do not seek conflict with Communist China. We will not seek to instigate, subjugate or humiliate China. President Trump and US have an immense respect for China and their civilisation. But we will not be pushed out of this critical region.'
In his speech Hegseth also took a swipe at the absence of any senior Chinese delegate at this year's conference. 'We are here this morning and, notably, someone else isn't,' he said.
Hegseth also appeared to reference comments by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, at the conference on Friday that a 'sense that [the US's] promise might not be so ironclad is ushering in a new instability'.
'An alliance cannot be ironclad if in reality or perception it is one-sided,' Hegseth said on Saturday. 'As allies share the burden we can increase our focus on the Indo-Pacific, our priority theatre.'
He said the US would conduct its 'first-ever live-fire test of its mid-range capability system in Australia' in coming months, and had expanded cooperations and joint exercises. It would also establish repair capability and capacity programs in the region, including for P-8 radar systems in Australia for the US and its allies, while expanding contracts for regional ship repair.
Hegseth's speech reiterated much of the Trump administration's defence and security position – blaming the previous administration for problems, pledging to strengthen the US military and secure the US border against unregulated immigration, while repeating plans to 'take back the Panama canal'.
He said Trump was spending $1tn – a 13% increase – on defence next year, citing advance weapons plans including the controversial Golden Dome.
Speaking in Singapore after Hegseth's address, US Democratic senator Tammy Duckworth told reporters that his comments about the US remaining in the Indo-Pacific region were welcome but he found his words 'patronising of our friends in the Indo-Pacific in particular'.
'I've gotta say his idea that we're going to wrap ourselves around you – we don't need that kind of language. We just need to stand together,' Duckworth said.
'The US is not asking people to choose between the US and [China] … But we will make sure international norms are maintained and ask our friends to help us uphold them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
IATA expects sustainable aviation fuel production to double in 2025
SEOUL, June 1 (Reuters) - The International Air Transport Association said on Sunday it expects the amount of sustainable aviation fuel produced to double in 2025 to reach 2 million tonnes, representing 0.7% of airlines' fuel consumption. Influential industry body IATA has increasingly been warning that airlines will struggle to meet their sustainability goals, and has described the production of SAF - which is more expensive than conventional jet fuel - as disappointingly slow. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that while the production increase was encouraging, the relatively small amount will add $4.4 billion globally to aviation's fuel bill. "The pace of progress in ramping up production and gaining efficiencies to reduce costs must accelerate," Walsh said in a statement. The broader aviation sector agreed in 2021 to target net-zero emissions in 2050 based mainly on a gradual switch to SAF, which is made from waste oil and biomass. Airlines are at odds with energy companies over scarce supplies of SAF, while also pointing the finger at plane makers Airbus ( opens new tab and Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab over delays in delivering more fuel-efficient jets.
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
British businessman ‘spied for Beijing and tried to smuggle weapons into China'
A British businessman tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China and attempted to silence critics of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment. John Miller is accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party and faces extradition to the US after his arrest in Serbia. The 63-year-old allegedly referred to Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as 'The Boss' in intercepted phone calls and conducted surveillance on an artist who created statues mocking the country's leader. In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with 43-year-old Chinese national Cui Guanghai, in Belgrade, Serbia, on the orders of the FBI and is now awaiting extradition to the US where he could be jailed for 20 years. Over two and a half years, Mr Miller and Mr Cui allegedly employed a wide range of tactics to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten a Los Angeles resident, known only as 'the victim', who is a public critic of President Xi. 'As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,' said Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general. Mr Miller is a long-time resident of the US, but also owns a £1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Companies House records show Mr Miller has held roles in at least five UK companies, including TEFL Jobs China Ltd, which seemed to facilitate English language teaching jobs, but is now dissolved. 'Couldn't have gone better' A few months before the case began in June 2023, Mr Miller went to China where he met with Chinese government officials in Beijing and Liaoning, a province in north-east China that borders North Korea. He also met someone who works for the governor of Liaoning. During the trip, Mr Cui reportedly introduced Mr Miller to two people, who Mr Miller later referred to as 'big mother------s.' Upon his return, he reportedly boasted that 'the trip couldn't have gone better'. The first incident referred to in the indictment occurred shortly after he returned. In October 2023, Mr Miller and Mr Cui approached two individuals who, unbeknownst to them, were working for the FBI. They enlisted the undercover agents to stop 'the victim' from protesting against Xi's appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit the following month. Mr Miller and Mr Cui allegedly installed tracking devices on 'the victim's' car and paid the undercover agents to slash their tires. Mr Miller and Mr Cui also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by 'the victim'. These depicted President Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, and were potentially going to be displayed at a protest. The 'victim' had previously displayed the statues in Times Square electronic billboards and broadcast the display on X, according to court documents. Initially, Mr Miller had wanted to steal the statues and 'remove the heads' as evidence, but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to 'smash up' them up. In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (£27,100) to convince 'the victim' to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest, after 'the victim' had displayed the statues on a 24-hour live feed online. Beyond the intimidation schemes, Mr Miller also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military. 'The big boss' Mr Miller reportedly tried to buy a £37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at £148,000, a £668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a £1.5 million air-defence radar system. He also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information. At one point, the Briton suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong, according to court documents. Several times in Mr Miller's conversations, he mentions a 'boss' or at times a 'big boss' that seems to be the one giving orders. According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Miller's use of the phrase 'boss' 'refer[s] to President Xi' and 'demonstrates [Miller's] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government.' Mr Blanche said: 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. 'We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge.' Bill Essayli, attorney for the Central District of California, said: 'The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because [they] criticised the Chinese government and its president. 'My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil.' Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, said: 'The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. 'Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC [People's Republic of China], and targeting him with violence.' If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
China accuses US of using Shangri-La dialogue to 'create disputes'
BEIJING, June 1 (Reuters) - China's defense ministry on Sunday condemned the United States for using the Shangri-La dialogue to "create disputes, sow discord, provoke confrontation and seek selfish interests" after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called China a threat in the Indo-Pacific. "We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this," defense ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement, adding that the U.S. will backfire on itself if it insists on going its own way.
