In a defiant speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Indo-Pacific nations to dramatically boost defense spending, warning that China’s aggressive actions threaten to destabilize the region and upend the global order.
At a Glance
- Defense Secretary Hegseth called for increased regional military spending to counter China
- The Trump administration warned against unilateral Chinese action in Taiwan or the South China Sea
- Hegseth criticized China’s military expansion and diplomatic absence at the summit
- U.S. plans expanded arms sales to Taiwan and enhanced deployments to allied nations
- Beijing denounced Hegseth’s comments as provocative and destabilizing
Confronting China’s Aggression
Speaking in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a stark warning about China’s growing military footprint and its ambitions to alter the regional status quo. “China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region’s status quo,” Hegseth stated. He condemned Beijing’s coercive tactics in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain, citing routine harassment of Taiwan as evidence of escalating threats.
He also noted China’s absence from the summit, calling it a clear signal of Beijing’s reluctance to engage in open dialogue. “Every day you see it. China’s military harasses Taiwan,” he said, framing China’s posture as both destabilizing and confrontational.
Watch a report: Hegseth warns ‘threat China poses is real’.
Allies Must Pay Their Share
Hegseth’s speech emphasized a familiar Trump administration message: allies must shoulder more of their own defense burden. “Asian partners should look to Europe as a newfound example. NATO members are pledging to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense—even Germany,” he said.
This shift mirrors Trump’s global defense strategy: reducing U.S. dependency by enhancing allied capabilities. Hegseth argued this rebalancing will allow the U.S. to maintain a powerful posture in the Indo-Pacific while allies harden their defenses. The Pentagon’s updated doctrine emphasizes bilateral partnerships rooted in shared interests, not imposed ideology.
Watch a report: Shangri-La Dialogue 2025: Pete Hegseth urges Asian allies to up defence spending.
Taiwan and Regional Deterrence
Taiwan took center stage in Hegseth’s speech. The secretary warned that a Chinese attempt to seize the island could trigger catastrophic consequences, both regionally and globally. The Trump administration is preparing a sweeping increase in arms transfers to Taiwan, potentially exceeding the $18 billion baseline set during Trump’s first term.
Beijing swiftly condemned the remarks. A spokesperson for China’s embassy accused Washington of being “a troublemaker,” escalating tensions and undermining peace in the Indo-Pacific.
Watch a report: Hegseth urges Asia to boost defence against China’s ‘imminent’ threat to Taiwan.
Strategic Realignments Underway
To reinforce regional security, Hegseth unveiled new deployments of advanced U.S. capabilities to the Philippines and a schedule of live-fire exercises with Australia. While some U.S. assets are being temporarily redirected to the Middle East and the southern border, the Pentagon insists this will not diminish long-term commitments in Asia.
Hegseth underscored the administration’s resolve: “We will not be pushed out of the Indo-Pacific.” Instead, Washington expects partners to deepen collaboration and take ownership of regional security challenges. With tensions in Taiwan, the South China Sea, and beyond, the message is clear—peace through strength is the Trump doctrine’s Indo-Pacific blueprint.
