U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Asian allies to increase military spending and deepen regional security cooperation, warning that China’s growing military capabilities pose an increasing challenge to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, one of Asia’s foremost security forums attended by defence officials, military leaders and diplomats, Hegseth said countries across the region should be concerned about Beijing’s military expansion.
“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.
The Pentagon chief argued that a stronger and more self-reliant network of allies was necessary to deter potential aggression and preserve the existing balance of power in the region.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” Hegseth stated. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
Hegseth disclosed that Washington expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product, while the United States plans to invest about $1.5 trillion in strengthening its own military capabilities.
“Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs,” he remarked, urging countries to prioritise practical defence investments.
He maintained that U.S. allies in the region were seeking stability rather than confrontation.
“What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick,” he said.
Despite his concerns over China’s military buildup, Hegseth adopted a measured tone regarding relations between Washington and Beijing, noting that communication channels between both militaries had improved.
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“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication,” he said.
Responding to the remarks, Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired senior colonel of the People’s Liberation Army, described U.S.-China relations as complex but stable.
“Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be,” Zhou said.
He also noted that Hegseth’s comments reflected a more constructive tone compared to previous years, attributing the shift to recent diplomatic engagements involving Donald Trump and China.
“[Hegseth] struck a much better tone than last year,” Zhou added.
China’s defence minister did not attend this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, marking the second consecutive year Beijing has opted out of the high-profile security forum.
Chinese officials had previously accused Hegseth of making what they described as “vilifying” remarks during last year’s gathering.