Hegseth softens China warningssoftens China warnings at Singapore security forum
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday and urged Asian allies to spend more on defence while speaking less sharply about China than in past remarks.
His comments came after a recent Trump-Xi summit and signal a more measured US tone even as Washington still warns about Beijing’s military buildup.
The shift matters because it may affect how allies balance deterrence, spending, and diplomacy across the Indo-Pacific.
US and allied framing
The US presentation cast stronger allied defence spending as necessary to keep the regional balance stable. Officials said they want partners to share more of the burden while maintaining military ties across Asia.
Chinese framing
Chinese delegates heard a softer tone than before, but they still noted continued US warnings about Chinese power. Beijing has argued that outside powers should not inflame regional tensions or treat China as an inevitable threat.
- Singapore hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue because it sits at a crossroads of Asian sea lanes.
- The forum is run by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank.
- Taiwan often draws close attention at the event even when it is not directly named in speeches.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
The United States adopts a sharper great-power competition strategy focused on China
