Latest news with #USDefence
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Shangri-La Dialogue a place to ease tensions, not inflame China threat
The Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually in Singapore, has long provided a useful platform for discussion of Asia's security issues. Advertisement But the United States used the region's premier security conference last weekend to launch a provocative attack on China, a move that fanned flames, rather than easing concerns. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China of wanting to 'fundamentally alter the region's status quo'. The threat, he said, was 'real' and 'could be imminent'. He referred to the South China Sea and Taiwan. Hegseth urged US partners and allies to join it in countering what he described as China's aggression. Beijing could not let the strongly worded allegations go unanswered. Hu Gangfeng, a People's Liberation Army major general, dismissed them as 'groundless'. Advertisement Hegseth's comments, Hu said, aimed to stir up trouble and incite confrontation, destabilising the region. China's defence and foreign ministries issued statements condemning the US accusations.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
U.S. urges Asian allies to prepare for China's ‘imminent' threat head-on
Screengrab from SINGAPORE: U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an absolute and grim message during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, forewarning that China's intentions toward Taiwan signify an upfront threat to global peace and security. A stark warning on Taiwan According to a recent CNN report, Hegseth made a clear warning saying that 'There is no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,' highlighting intelligence reports that the Chinese military is vigorously setting up a plausible attack on the island by 2027. Hegseth accused Beijing of attempting to redesign the Indo-Pacific order via military pressure, principally with its regular training drills mimicking an attack on Taiwan. U.S. calls for allied unity Hegseth stressed that the United States cannot dissuade China alone. 'We ask – and indeed, we insist – that our allies and partners do their part on defence,' he said, asking countries in the region to meaningfully increase defence outlays. He cited NATO partners who have allotted up to 5% of GDP on defence as a standard for Asian allies. Hegseth's comments echo a mounting resolve from the Trump government to strengthen preemption in the light of what he labelled Beijing's 'wake-up call' to the region. China pushes back against 'defamatory allegations' Beijing summarily rebuked Hegseth's remarks. In a statement, China's foreign ministry vilified the U.S. for making 'defamatory allegations' and 'sowing division' via the defence forum. Chinese bureaucrats maintained that they remain open to negotiation but carped at Washington's growing military pomposity in Asia. Pressures were further augmented by China's pronouncement to reduce its involvement and input in the forum, sending a low-level team instead of its defence minister. Rising tensions, but no backing down Notwithstanding calls for sobriety from other regional powers, Hegseth made it clear that the U.S. will manifest and sustain a strong presence in Asia. 'We will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies be subordinated and intimidated,' he said. While reiterating that Washington does not seek friction that could lead to war, he asserted that the Trump administration is dedicated to guaranteeing Taiwan's safety and will stand firm against Chinese hostility in contested areas such as the South China Sea. See also India hangs four over 2012 Delhi bus gang-rape Experts and forecasters note that, in contrast to recent changes in U.S. policy toward Europe, the administration's approach to Asia remains intensive and forceful, underscored by sustained combined military training with Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and South Korea. Without high-level consultations arranged between the U.S. and China, optimism for alleviating tensions appears minimal, leading to the reinforced geopolitical schisms presently defining the Indo-Pacific region.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Warning to Australia over fears China's military actions could trigger 'nuclear cascade'
Alarm bells are ringing over the Chinese-led military build up taking place in Australia's region, with fears a "nuclear cascade" could unfold as more nations seek to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Australia's Defence Minister has warned about an Indo-Pacific arms race, but at the same time has signalled Australia preparedness to increase military spending. Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has warned of the developing dynamic of China's arms build up and Russia's strategic ties with North Korea, saying the arms control framework previously developed by Western allies to combat nuclear proliferation during the Cold War might not be enough to meet today's challenges. The US called on Australia to increase defence spending as leaders met over the weekend at Asia's top security summit in Singapore. Mr Marles noted that Australia's defence budget will rise to about 2.3 per cent of GDP within the decade, from the two per cent it currently hovers at, saying the planned expansion represented the "single biggest peacetime increase in defence expenditure in Australia's history". "So we are beginning this journey," he said. The former Fox News host and now US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has personified the changing nature of the White House after the re-election of Donald Trump, but his message on China has been broadly the same to his predecessor, says Ely Ratner, the former Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs under the Biden administration. But he warned of a growing threat to stability in the region. "I think it is very complicated by the fact that China is undergoing the largest peacetime military build up in history," he told ABC radio on Monday. "They haven't explained why they think they need such a large arsenal of nuclear weapons and they're putting real pressure on other countries both in the region and in the world when it comes to nuclear weapons. It is quite a destabilising military build up we're seeing from China. He said the challenge is not just about how to manage nuclear armed nations like India and Pakistan which have been involved in recent skirmishes, but how to stop more nations feeling like they need to acquire them, leading to "the potential of nuclear cascades". "If China grows its nuclear arsenal to such a size that countries like South Korea … and then potentially others start thinking they might need their own nuclear weapons, then we're in a much more dangerous world," he warned this morning. When asked if allies like Australia could trust the Trump administration is committed to defence in the broader Indo-Pacific region, Mr Ratner said "I think for the time being the broad answer is yes". He added that he didn't believe China was more likely to invade Taiwan due to President Trump being in office, saying the Asian giant was in a "wait and see mode". Speaking at the summit on Saturday Mr Hegseth called on allies in the region to share the burden of deterrence by upgrading their own defences. "There's no reason to sugar coat it," he told the Shangri-La Dialogue. "The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent", suggesting an invasion could take place within the next two years. Responding to questions from reporters on Sunday, Mr Albanese said Australia's position on Taiwan was "very clear" and included a bipartisan stance to support the status quo. China views Taiwan as its own territory, and slammed the US as the biggest "troublemaker for regional peace and stability". with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue: Hegseth aims to sway Asian allies amid Trump-era doubts
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will try to convince Asian defence leaders this weekend that the United States is a more trusted partner for the region than China, US officials said, as questions linger about the Trump administration's commitment to the region. Hegseth, who has spent a large portion of his first months on the job focused on domestic issues, countering diversity, equity and inclusion in the military and taking aim at the press, will make his first extended remarks in Singapore on Saturday about how he envisions US defence policy in the Indo-Pacific. He will be addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue , Asia's premier security forum, which runs this year from May 31-June 1. Defence ministers, senior military and security officials and diplomats from around the world are expected to attend. French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver the keynote address on Friday. 'Secretary Hegseth is going to make the case to Asian allies about why the United States is a better partner than the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),' said a senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said Hegseth had the opportunity to take advantage of Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun's expected absence from the dialogue, where US and Chinese delegates have locked horns in previous years.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Donald Trump plans $100 billion Saudi Arabia arms deal, months after Joe Biden's failed defence pact with Riyadh; Here's what we know
The United States is planning a new arms deal with Saudi Arabia, valued at over $100 billion. According to sources cited by Reuters, this announcement could be made during US President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May. If finalised, it would mark a return to Trump's earlier approach to arms sales, especially to one of Washington's most critical defence allies in the Middle East. The deal comes after former President Joe Biden's administration failed to secure a defence agreement with Riyadh. Biden's efforts were part of a broader diplomatic push to normalise Saudi-Israel ties. Biden's proposal vs Trump's comeback plan Biden's earlier proposal had attempted to steer Saudi Arabia away from Chinese defence investments. In return for limiting arms purchases from China and reducing Beijing's presence in the kingdom, Washington had offered access to more advanced US military technology. However, the Biden administration's plan did not materialise. It remains unclear whether Trump's proposed deal comes with similar conditions or if it will follow a more open-ended arrangement. A US Defence official told Reuters that the security relationship with Saudi Arabia had grown stronger under Trump's leadership and said defence cooperation would continue as a priority. Defence giants set to benefit Several major US defence contractors are expected to be involved in the potential deal. Lockheed Martin may provide C-130 transport aircraft, missiles, and radar systems. RTX Corp, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies, is also likely to play a key role, along with Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. These companies have either declined to comment or deferred queries to the US government, citing the sensitive nature of foreign military sales. Lockheed Martin clarified that such deals are handled directly between governments. Some of the agreements included in the $100 billion deal have reportedly been under discussion for years. General Atomics' drones, for instance, were first requested by Saudi Arabia in 2018. A $20 billion deal involving MQ-9B SeaGuardian-style drones has gained traction over the last year, according to sources. Past deals and Congressional scrutiny The US has a long history of supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Trump proposed a $110 billion arms package. But by 2018, only about $14.5 billion worth of those deals had been initiated. The slow progress and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi led to criticism and restrictions. The US has a In 2021, the Biden administration, with support from Congress, banned the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. The decision was linked to concerns over civilian casualties in Yemen and the fallout from Khashoggi's death. That ban was lifted in 2024, after shifting geopolitical circumstances — including the war in Ukraine and the October 7 Hamas attack — led to improved US-Saudi cooperation, particularly over future plans for Gaza. What lies ahead While many aspects of the current arms deal remain under wraps, defence company executives are reportedly considering travel to the region as part of the negotiations. The outcome of this deal could shape the next phase of US-Saudi military relations, reopening a chapter that was paused during the Biden era and reaffirming Trump's focus on defence sales as a tool of diplomacy and job creation. Under US law, large foreign arms deals must still go through Congressional review. As of now, whether this deal gains political traction or stirs fresh debate remains to be seen.
