Latest news with #Indo-Pacific
Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Shangri-La Dialogue kicks off in Singapore amid geopolitical tensions
SINGAPORE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defense and security summit, opened here on Friday amid geopolitical tensions. This year's dialogue drew representatives from 47 countries, including 40 ministerial-level delegates, 20 chief of defense forces-level delegates, over 20 senior defense officials, and prominent academics, according to the Singapore Ministry of Defense. A Chinese delegation from the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is attending the event. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to deliver a keynote speech late Friday, where he's expected to position France -- and Europe -- as champions of international cooperation and rules-based trade. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to speak on Saturday about America's "new ambitions for Indo-Pacific security." Observers say he faces a tough task in convincing Asian allies, many of whom remain uneasy about President Donald Trump's disruptive policies, not least those related to trade. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will also give a speech on Saturday and make clear how, amid global geopolitical uncertainties and sharpened geo-economic fault lines, Malaysia as ASEAN's current chair, provides strategic leadership for the region and beyond, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the organizer. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas is also scheduled to speak on Saturday. Analysts say key topics will likely include regional cooperation, the U.S. security policies and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The implications of sweeping U.S. tariffs are also likely to attract attention, as officials will use the platform to reassure partners and navigate an increasingly multipolar security landscape. The Dialogue runs from Friday through Sunday.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US Defence Secretary warns allies over looming China threat
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has used a security summit in Singapore to warn allies over the looming threat of China in the region. In a stark message to the Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Hegseth told Indo-Pacific counterparts there are increasing military and economic pressures being exerted by China. Defence Minister Richard Marles urged other Indo-Pacific Leaders to do their part in deterring China moving forward.
India.com
an hour ago
- Politics
- India.com
Expanding our security partnerships with India: US Defence Secy Hegseth; bats for enhancing QUAD cooperation
The United States on Saturday announced the expansion of its security partnerships with India through robust military exercises while emphasising the amplification of its cooperation within the QUAD and other multilateral frameworks. During his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth underscored the US's commitment to strengthening ties with Indo-Pacific allies, addressing threats from China, and promoting a pragmatic foreign policy grounded in mutual self-interest amidst a shifting global security landscape. "We are expanding our security partnerships with India through robust military exercises like Tiger Triumph and amplifying cooperation within the QUAD and other multilateral friendly groups," the US Secretary of Defence stated. "Within the QUAD, we are also leading an initiative called the Indo-Pacific Logistic Network, which enables QUAD partners to leverage their logistics capabilities in the Indo-Pacific," he added, highlighting the QUAD's role in the region. The QUAD is a diplomatic partnership among India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, committed to fostering an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. Hegseth emphasised a broader commitment to regional partnerships, noting the need to find new ways to work with not just treaty allies but also key defence partners in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. "We will continue to wrap our arms around our friends and find new ways to work together, not only with our treaty allies here but also with our key defence partners in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific," he stated. He further pointed to the US-India defence relationship as a cornerstone, adding, "Look no further than our growing defence relationship with India, where we pass new milestones by the day. From the shared venture of our defence industries to the increased operational coordination and interoperability within our military." The Defence Secretary also outlined the Trump administration's new foreign policy approach, which he says was grounded in "common sense" and "national interest." "President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interest, built on a willingness to work with others while respecting mutual self-interests... The United States is not interested in the moralistic, preachy approach of the foreign policy of the past. We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues. We are not here to impose our will on you. We are all sovereign nations," the Defence Secretary stated. Speaking on the China challenge, Hegseth asserted, "We do not seek conflict with communist China. We will not instigate, nor seek to subjugate, nor humiliate. President Trump and the American people have immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilisation. But we will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated." However, he issued a stark warning on Taiwan, stating that any attempt to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world, noting that the threat China poses was "real and could be imminent". Widely recognised as Asia's premier defence summit, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is a meeting where ministers from different countries debate the region's most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles urges greater military openness from China
Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday (May 31, 2025) urged greater transparency from China over its military modernisation and deployments as Pacific nations brace for a more assertive Chinese presence. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore, Mr. Marles said that while China remains an important strategic partner to Australia, more open communication between the two nations is key for a "productive" relationship. "When you look at the growth in the Chinese military that has happened without a strategic reassurance, or a strategic would like to have a greater transparency in what China is seeking to do in not only its build up, but in the exercises that it undertakes," said Mr. Marles. "We want to have the most productive relationship with China that we can have ... we hope that in the context of that productive relationship, we can see greater transparency and greater communication between our two countries in respect of our defence." Pete Hegseth says US will stand by Indo-Pacific allies against 'imminent' threat of China Both Australia and New Zealand raised concerns in February after three Chinese warships conducted unprecedented live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. Both nations complained of late notice over the drills by China, which led to the diversion of 49 commercial flights. Mr. Marles said that while the drills were in accordance with international law, China should have been less disruptive. He also said Australia was able to closely scrutinise the Chinese task-force. "It's fair to say that this was done in a bigger way than they have done before, but equally, that was meant from our point of view, by a much greater degree of surveillance than we've ever done," he said. Australia Elections 2025: Albanese re-elected by a country under economic and environmental stress "From the moment that Chinese warships came within the vicinity of Australia, they were being tailed and tracked by Australian assets ... we were very clear about what exercises China was undertaking and what capability they were seeking to exercise and to build." Chinese officials have signalled that more such exercises could be expected as it was routine naval activity in international waters. Defence analysts say the exercises underscore Beijing's ambition to develop a global navy that will be able to project power into the region more frequently. Australia has in recent times pledged to boost its missile defence capability amid China's nuclear weapons buildup and its blue-water naval expansion, as the country targets to increase its defence spending from roughly 2% of GDP currently to 2.4% by the early 2030s. The nation is scheduled to pay the United States $2 billion by the end of 2025 to assist its submarine shipyards, in order to buy three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines starting in 2032 - its biggest ever defence project.
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
S. Korea almost absent in Hegseth's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
The Pentagon chief's speech at an annual defense forum in Singapore used to highlight defense cooperation with South Korea and trilateral efforts with Japan as the United States has sought to leverage the core Asian allies for peace in the face of a provocative North Korea and an assertive China. But South Korea was almost absent in this year's Shangri-La Dialogue speech by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding to concerns that the monthslong absence of a fully elected leader in South Korea could have an impact on the bilateral alliance. The speech was delivered as South Korea is set to pick a new president in an election slated for Tuesday. The presidential vote was set up following the April ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. Hegseth's speech spelled out security engagements with Japan, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand and India as well as the trilateral partnership between the US, Japan and Australia. But Korea was not mentioned in his narrative of security cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies and partners. He touched on South Korea once, when he announced a defense cooperation project that will enable Korea and New Zealand, which use P-8 maritime aircraft, to repair the plane in the Indo-Pacific rather than relying on a single repair source in the continental U.S. The increasingly worrisome North Korean military quandary was not given much attention in the secretary's speech either, whereas he accentuated threats from China and stressed the need for allies to increase defense spending and serve as "force multipliers" in the midst of threats from Beijing. The secretary's perceived lack of focus on cooperation with South Korea followed a recent Wall Street Journal report that the Pentagon is considering the idea of pulling out around 4,500 troops from the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK). The Pentagon has dismissed the report as untrue, but speculation continues. A senior US defense official has said that given the US' priority on deterring China, it is "essential" to work with the incoming Seoul government to "modernize" the alliance and "calibrate" US force posture on the Korean Peninsula -- a remark that apparently left open the door for an adjustment to the USFK presence. South Korea was also absent in the secretary's plans for bilateral, trilateral and multilateral talks on the sidelines of the annual forum, as Seoul sent Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae to the forum rather than its acting Defense Minister Kim Sun-ho. "My understanding is (the secretary's South Korean) counterpart was not able to be attending the Shangri-La Dialogue. That's why he is not able to do the bilateral meeting with South Korea at this time," a senior US defense official told reporters earlier this week. "But obviously we look forward to working with the incoming South Korean government after the election. I also want to reiterate the US-ROK alliance remains critical to the US interests," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Though South Korea was rarely seen in official events, its officials made behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to maintain engagements with foreign partners, a diplomatic source told Yonhap News Agency. "Still, we have received a due amount of requests from foreign governments for engagements at the forum," the source said. Still, South Koreans appear to have been a bit let down about a lack of attention to Korea in the secretary's remarks. "I felt that it was a bit unfortunate," another source said. Worries about the strength of the alliance in the midst of political uncertainty in Seoul emerged in March as well when Hegseth skipped South Korea in his first trip to the Indo-Pacific, which included stops in Japan and the Philippines. Brushing aside those concerns, Seoul and Washington continued to hold regular defense talks. Early this month, the allies held the Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue in Washington, where the two sides agreed to further cooperate to achieve shared security goals on the peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides are also expected to hold a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, their key nuclear deterrence body. Observers pin hopes on the full resumption of high-level talks between South Korea and the US once a new government is launched next month. (Yonhap)
