Hegseth challenges China in its own backyard

The Hill

a day ago

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday in Singapore attempted to woo Asian defense leaders to Washington's side as he warned of the 'imminent' threat China poses to the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth, who took the stage at the Shangri-La Dialogue, sought to seize on a gap China created in declining to send its own defense minister to the major annual gathering of diplomats, military officials and business leaders — an opportunity for the U.S. to make inroads with Asian countries.
'Here in the Indo-Pacific, our futures are bound together,' Hegseth told attendees. 'We share your vision of peace and stability, of prosperity and security. And we are here to stay.'
'And as a matter of fact, we are here this morning, somebody else isn't,' he added.
Hegseth's trip to Singapore — his second visit to the region as Pentagon chief — takes place amid the backdrop of heightened rhetoric between Washington and Beijing, which President Trump accused Friday of violating a temporary trade deal.
European and Indo-Pacific countries have found themselves at a crossroads as of late, increasingly pulled between the competing interests of the U.S. and China as both struggle for dominance.
There's also uncertainty in the region over the U.S.'s commitment to the defense of Taiwan, which China has threatened to overtake, a potential reality Hegseth played into.
'There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,' he said, adding that any move on Taipei by Beijing 'would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.'
In an attempt to sway Indo-Pacific nations, Hegseth promised continued American partnership and support to those wary of the Trump administration's commitment to the region. But the pledges came with a caveat repeated in Europe, Africa and elsewhere in the world: a call for an increase in defense spending.
'We ask, and indeed we insist, that our allies and partners do their part on defense,' he said. 'Sometimes that means having uncomfortable and tough conversations.'
The Shangri-La Dialogue, put on by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, traditionally gives U.S. defense leaders a soapbox to lay out America's strategy in the Indo-Pacific, with an audience of senior officials from across the globe.
China, instead of sending its defense minister, sent only an academic delegation to the gathering.
Hegseth took advantage of this absence and delivered the Trump administration's most concrete stance on U.S. security policy in the region since the president took office in January, pledging American support for allies while painting China as the common enemy.
'We do not seek conflict with communist China. … But we will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated,' 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,' he continued.
While China has not sought war with any nation, it has flexed its military and economic might in the seas around East and South East Asia, attempting to dominate vital shipping lanes via its powerful navy and man-made islands laden with military equipment.
Beijing has also built up its nuclear and conventional arsenals, amassing vessels for a navy that now outstrips the U.S. Navy in number of ships.
And an ever looming presence is China's firm eye on Taiwan, which it views as its own territory and has vowed to 'reunify' with the island, using force if necessary. To that end, Beijing has increased war games around Taiwan and stepped up political pressure.
The U.S. has made clear, however, that it will not be pushed from the region, with tens of thousands of troops based in Japan and South Korea, and several U.S. owned or maintained military bases in Australia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Hegseth affirmed the U.S. alliance in the region when he visited the Philippines and Japan in March. The Pentagon also announced the development of a new defense strategy in May centered on 'deterring' China in the region and 'increasing burden-sharing' with international partners.
But in Saturday's speech Hegseth expanded on Washington's plan, which includes improving U.S. forward force posture, rebuilding defense industrial bases, and helping allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities.
The pledges came, however, with an all-too-expected push for countries to ramp up their own defense spending, something the U.S. has already pushed its European allies to do.
'It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to [spend more] while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat — I've mentioned North Korea,' Hegseth said.
While he didn't mention any specific spending goal, it is speculated that Hegseth will push Asian nations to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)— the new spending goal for NATO members in Europe.
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby hinted as much when he posted to the social media platform X on Wednesday that 5 percent 'is the new standard for our allies around the world, especially Asia.'
Asian countries spent an average of 1.5 percent of GDP on defense in 2024 — a figure that has stayed constant over the last decade — but spending on weapons is spiking amid a darkening security outlook, according to a study released Wednesday by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
To nudge things along, Hegseth suggested on Saturday that European allies focus on security on their own continent, freeing up the U.S. to zero in on Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
'We would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent, so that as we partner there, which we will continue to do, we're able to use our comparative advantage as an Indo-Pacific nation to support our partners here,' he said during a Q&A portion after his speech.
Hegseth's comments mark a turning point in his usual messaging, which has heavily centered around domestic issues such as protecting the U.S. southern border, restoring the 'warrior ethos,' and countering so-called 'woke' initiatives, including diversity, equity and inclusion programs, in the military.
He still mentioned those issues, but played to a more international audience on Saturday.
'We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt our politics or ideology. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues,' Hegseth said. 'We respect you, your traditions and your militaries. And we want to work with you where our shared interests align.'
It's unclear how Hegseth's message was met by allies in the region, but China was certainly rankled, calling his comments 'steeped in provocations and instigation.'
'Mr. Hegseth repeatedly smeared and attacked China and relentlessly played up the so-called 'China threat,'' the Chinese embassy in Singapore wrote on its Facebook page. 'As a matter of fact, the U.S. itself is the biggest 'troublemaker' for regional peace and stability.'