US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Indo-Pacific allies on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face mounting military and economic pressure from China, while urging them to contribute more to their own defence.
He stated that Washington will strengthen its overseas defences to counter what the Pentagon perceives as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, especially regarding its aggressive stance towards Taiwan. China has conducted exercises to simulate a blockade of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own and the US has pledged to defend. “China’s army is rehearsing for the real deal,” Hegseth said during a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. “We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.”
China has a stated aim of developing its military capability to seize Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027, a deadline seen by experts as aspirational rather than a hard deadline. Beijing has also constructed sophisticated artificial islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts and developed advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, prompting the US to create its own space-based Golden Dome missile defences.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies, Hegseth noted that China is not just building its military forces but “actively training for it, every day.” He also criticised China’s ambitions in Latin America, particularly its efforts to expand influence over the Panama Canal, and urged countries to increase defence spending to match the five per cent of GDP that European nations are now expected to contribute.
Hegseth reiterated a previous pledge to enhance US military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific for a more robust deterrent. Although both the Obama and Biden administrations had committed to a pivot towards the Pacific, a full shift has never taken place. US military resources from the Indo-Pacific have often been redirected to the Middle East and Europe, particularly since the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
In recent months, the Trump administration moved a Patriot missile defence battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East in a complex logistical operation while also recalling Coast Guard ships to the US to safeguard the US-Mexico border. When asked why resources were pulled if the Indo-Pacific is a priority, Hegseth said the shifts were necessary to defend against Houthi missile attacks and to bolster defences against illegal immigration.
He stressed the importance of allies and partners enhancing their own defence efforts, stating, “Ultimately a strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage.” Hegseth warned Indo-Pacific nations that seeking both US military support and Chinese economic support carries risks. “Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defence decision space during times of tension,” he stated.
China typically sends its defence minister to the conference, but Dong Jun did not attend this year, a move seen as a snub due to the ongoing tariff conflict initiated by Trump. Hegseth remarked, “We are here this morning. And somebody else isn’t.” He assured that the US would engage with countries willing to collaborate, regardless of traditional alliances. “We’re opening our arms to countries across the spectrum — traditional allies, non-traditional allies,” he said.
Hegseth clarified that committing US support for Indo-Pacific nations would not require alignment with the West on cultural or climate issues. It remains uncertain if the US can or wishes to replace China as the region’s main economic driver. Nonetheless, Hegseth’s efforts coincide with Trump’s Middle East visit, which yielded significant new defence agreements.
By Tara Copp and David Rising, AP
