Pentagon Chief Warns of China Buildup, Urges Allies to Boost Defence Budgets
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies on Saturday to increase military spending to counter China’s growing regional influence, warning of “rightful alarm” over Beijing’s rapid military expansion.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier defence forum, Hegseth argued that a stronger, more self-reliant alliance network is essential to deter aggression and preserve regional stability.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” he said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
Allies Must Pull Their Weight
Hegseth called on Asian partners to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, as Washington pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its own military. He delivered the message bluntly, “Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs.” He added that the United States expects genuine burden-sharing. “We need partners, not protectorates. No freeloading.”
He praised contributions from South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and noted that Japan is taking concrete steps to strengthen its defences.
Despite the tough language, Hegseth struck a measured tone on US-China relations, describing them as “better than they have been in many years,” with more frequent military-to-military communication helping to manage tensions.
Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired People’s Liberation Army colonel attending as part of the Chinese delegation, called US-China ties “complicated.” Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last, crediting the shift to President Trump’s recent visit to China. “Both sides have open channels of communication,” Zhou said. “The situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be.”
Iran, Taiwan Also in Focus
On Iran, Hegseth confirmed that Washington stands ready to resume strikes if diplomacy fails. “Our ability to recommence, if necessary, we are more than capable,” he said, adding that Trump seeks a “strong deal” to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Notably, Hegseth made no mention of Taiwan in his speech, but when pressed on a reported $14 billion arms package for the island, he deferred to the president. “Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship. There’s been no change in our status.”
