US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies on Saturday to significantly increase military spending and warned of “rightful alarm” over China’s rapid military buildup, telling partners that the era of US subsidising wealthy nations’ defence was over.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore — Asia’s premier forum for defence and security — Hegseth said the US expected its Asian allies and partners to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, as Washington pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its own military.
“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said. “A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power. No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
Hegseth was blunt on burden-sharing. “The era of the United States subsidizing the defence of wealthy nations is over,” he said. “We need partners, not protectorates. We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”
In a pointed summary of US priorities, he told the assembled defence leaders: “Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs.”
Hegseth praised contributions from South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to strengthen its defences. He also struck a measured note on US-China relations, saying ties were “better than they have been in many years,” with more frequent military-to-military engagement helping to manage tensions.
Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who attended as part of the Chinese delegation, said Hegseth struck “a much better tone” than last year, attributing the shift to Trump’s recent visit to Beijing. “Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be,” Zhou said. China’s defence minister skipped the dialogue for a second consecutive year.
READY TO RESUME IRAN STRIKES
On the Middle East, Hegseth said the United States stood ready to resume strikes on Iran if diplomacy failed. “Our ability to recommence if necessary — we are more than capable,” he said, adding that Trump remained “patient” and was seeking a “strong deal” to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump said on Friday he would convene advisers to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end the war.
Hegseth pushed back on suggestions the Iran conflict was diverting attention from Asia-Pacific priorities. “We can do two things at one time,” he said.
TAIWAN ARMS SALE TRUMP’S CALL
Asked about a potential multi-billion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan, Hegseth said any decision rested with President Trump, signalling no shift in Washington’s position despite recent engagement with Beijing. Trump had said after his meeting with Xi Jinping this month that he was undecided on whether to approve the package, which Reuters has reported could be worth up to $14 billion.
“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth said. “There’s been no change in our status.”
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has been awaiting US approval of the arms sale. “We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” Hegseth said, downplaying concerns that Middle East operations had depleted US weapons stockpiles.
(Reuters)