US urges Asian allies to prepare for confrontation with China
- Open Media Ukraine
- 24 minutes ago
- 2 min read
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has called on Asian allies to sharply increase military spending and warned of a growing threat from China, according to Reuters. RBC-Ukraine informs.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Hegseth stressed that the United States needs stronger and more self-reliant allies.
"There is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond," the Pentagon chief said.
According to him, dominance by any state in the Pacific region could disrupt the current 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," he emphasized.
Washington wants higher defense budgets
Hegseth said the United States expects allies and partners to increase military spending to 3.5% of GDP.
According to him, countries in the region are already planning to invest around $1.5 trillion in developing their armed forces.
At the same time, the minister stressed that Washington’s goal is not escalation, but ensuring stability.
"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," the head of the US defense department explained.
Hegseth also reiterated President Donald Trump's position on the need for a fairer distribution of defense costs among allies.
"The era of the United States subsidizing the defence of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates," the Pentagon chief said.
He added that a strong alliance is impossible without an even distribution of responsibility.
"We don't have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading," Hegseth emphasized.
At the same time, he positively assessed the contribution of South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan to strengthening regional security.
US-China relations
Despite harsh assessments of China’s military buildup, Hegseth noted that relations between Washington and Beijing have recently improved.
According to him, military officials from both countries are maintaining more direct contact, which helps avoid dangerous escalation.
A representative of the Chinese delegation, senior researcher at Tsinghua University and retired colonel Zhou Bo, described US-China relations as "complicated."
However, he noted that this year Hegseth chose a "much better tone" than last year, linking this shift to Trump’s visit to China.
"Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be," Zhou added.
The Pentagon chief’s statements came amid concerns over a possible escalation around Taiwan. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) previously said that a potential conflict between the US and China over the island could ultimately even reach a nuclear level.
The report also notes that the Asia-Pacific region is gradually becoming the center of a new arms race.
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