While playing up the U.S.’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth took swipes at the absence of China’s defense minister Dong Jun.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies to strengthen military coordination, accusing Beijing of destabilizing the region.
The Pentagon chief urged political and defense leaders in the audience to ramp up defense spending.
The absence of China’s top military official has cast doubt over whether there will still be a bilateral meeting between Chinese and the U.S. defense officials.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Saturday warned that the U.S. was prepared to « fight and win » against China if deterrence efforts failed, while urging Asian allies to strengthen military coordination and raise defense spending.
Speaking at the annual defense summit Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth stressed Washington’s resolve to bolster defense capabilities at a time when regional warfare has flared up around the world, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and the military conflict in Gaza.
While playing up the U.S.’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth took swipes at the absence of China’s defense minister. « We are here this morning. Somebody else isn’t », he said.
Hegseth urged political and defense leaders in the audience to act with urgency in pushing back against China’s mounting military pressure in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
« China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region’s status quo. We cannot look away and we cannot ignore it. China’s behavior toward its neighbors and the world is a wake up call and an urgent one », said Hegseth.
« We ask, and indeed, we insist that our allies and partners do their part on defense », said Hegseth, adding that « our defense spending must reflect the dangers and threats that we face today, because deterrence doesn’t come on the cheap. »
The sharp rhetoric comes against the backdrop of increasing trade frictions between Washington and Beijing as optimism over a deal following a temporary tariff truce secured earlier this month wanes.
