US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at a security conference in Singapore, Asia's top defense summit, where China's military modernization and assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific were key topics. During the event, Hegseth assured Pacific allies that Washington remains committed to the region.
While expressing rightful alarm regarding China's military buildup and stating that Beijing cannot impose its hegemony on U.S. partners and allies, Hegseth adopted a more conciliatory and moderate tone. He hailed stable U.S. ties with China and softened past comments that described the country as an imminent threat, notably sidestepping the topic of Taiwan.
Hegseth praised allies in Asia and told military leaders how they could get to the front of the line for U.S. assistance. However, he stated that the U.S. expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of their GDPs, while taking swipes at longstanding defense partners in Europe.