Pete Hegseth calls on Asia to boost military spending in face of ‘imminent’ threat from China
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US defense secretary flags imminent China threat, calls on Asian allies to increase military budgets
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would have “devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world’” It was his first appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore since taking office in January. His push for more regional defense spending may rattle allies, even though analysts expect him to receive a relatively warm reception in Singapore. But some of the Trump administration’s moves in the region have raised questions, including relocation of missile defense systems from Asia to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. Heg seth suggested Europe should focus more on its own continent to free up American resources for the Indo-Pacific, which remains a top priority for the U.S., he said.. A study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted a surge in arms spending and research collaboration in Asia despite average regional defense Spending remaining flat at 1.5% of GDP in 2024.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a sharp warning about the growing threat from China on Saturday, calling it “real and potentially imminent” as he urged Indo-Pacific allies to ramp up defense spending in the face of Beijing’s assertiveness.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore—Asia’s top security forum—Hegseth said the Indo-Pacific remains a top priority for the Trump administration. It was his first appearance at the summit since taking office in January.
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“There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” Hegseth said, adding that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would have “devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.” He reiterated Trump’s stance that such a move “won’t happen on this president’s watch.”
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has increased military pressure around the self-ruled island. Taiwan’s government, however, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, asserting that only the island’s people can determine their future.
Hegseth said it must be clear that “Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.” His push for more regional defense spending may rattle allies, even though analysts expect him to receive a relatively warm reception in Singapore.
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China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun skipped the conference, sending only an academic delegation. Hegseth has also criticized NATO allies for underfunding defense. In Brussels earlier this year, he warned against treating the U.S. like a “sucker.”
On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron, who delivered the keynote address, said Hegseth was right to call for increased European defense spending. “It’s hard to believe after some recent trips to Europe that I’m saying this,” Hegseth said, “but thanks to President Trump, Asian allies should look to Europe as a new example.”
He pointed to NATO countries now pledging 5% of GDP toward defense, including Germany, and questioned why Asian allies facing “an even more formidable threat” weren’t doing the same. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is co-leading a bipartisan U.S. delegation to the forum, said Hegseth’s tone toward allies was “patronizing.” Still, regional military budgets are rising.
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A study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which hosts the Shangri-La Dialogue, noted a surge in arms spending and research collaboration in Asia despite average regional defense spending remaining flat at 1.5% of GDP in 2024. Hegseth suggested Europe should focus more on its own continent to free up American resources for the Indo-Pacific.
“We would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent,” he said, “so we’re able to use our comparative advantage as an Indo-Pacific nation to support our partners here.” However, some of the Trump administration’s moves in the region have raised questions.
The Pentagon recently relocated missile defense systems from Asia to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran—an effort requiring 73 C-17 transport flights. Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has focused heavily on domestic issues since taking office, also touched on his familiar talking points like “restoring the warrior ethos.”
“We are not here to pressure countries to adopt our politics or ideology,” he said. “We are not here to preach about climate change or cultural issues. We respect your traditions and militaries—and want to work together where our interests align.”
(With agency inputs)
Pentagon chief warns of imminent China threat, pushes Asian allies to boost defence spending
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that the threat from China was real and potentially imminent. His comments came as he pushed allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defence needs. His remarks are likely to cause consternation amongst partners, even though experts said he would face a relatively friendly audience in Singapore. China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun has decided to skip the major Asian security forum and Beijing has sent only an academic delegation. The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, and takes place in Singapore every year from May 31 to June 1. It is the first time the Pentagon chief has spoken at the event, which is run by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Singapore Institute for Defence Studies (SIDS) It is also the first of its kind to be held in the Asia-Pacific region, which has been a priority for the U.S.-led Obama administration.
Summary In defence forum debut, Hegseth calls for Asian allies to step up
Speech could cause consternation among allies
Pentagon chief has blasted European allies in past for not spending enough
SINGAPORE, May 31 (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that the threat from China was real and potentially imminent as he pushed allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defence needs.
Hegseth, speaking for the first time at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, underlined that the Indo-Pacific region was a priority for the Trump administration.
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“There’s no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” Hegseth said, in some of his strongest comments on the Communist nation since he took office in January. He added that any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan “would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world”, and echoed Trump’s comment that China will not invade Taiwan on the president’s watch.
China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to “reunify” with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. It has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games around Taiwan.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
“It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo Pacific,” Hegseth said.
But his comments on allies needing to increase spending is likely to cause consternation amongst partners, even though experts said Hegseth would face a relatively friendly audience in Singapore. China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun has decided to skip the major Asian security forum and Beijing has sent only an academic delegation.
Hegseth has previously taken aim at allies in Europe for not spending more on their own defence. In February, he warned Europe against treating America like a “sucker” while addressing a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
On Friday, while delivering the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, French President Emmanuel Macron said Hegseth was justified in asking Europe to increase its own defence spending.
“It’s hard to believe, a little bit, after some trips to Europe that I’m saying this, but thanks to President Trump, Asian allies should look to countries in Europe as a new found example,” Hegseth said.
“NATO members are pledging to spend 5% of their GDP on defence, even Germany. So it doesn’t make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less on defence in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea.”
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said it was important to have Hegseth acknowledge that European countries were stepping up.
“It was for me maybe the first time or one of the first times I heard the U.S administration acknowledge this explicitly,” Brekelmans said, referring to Hegseth’s comments.
‘PATRONISING’
U.S. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is co-leading a bi-partisan delegation to the Shangri-la Dialogue, said it was noteworthy that Hegseth emphasised that the United States was committed to the region, but his language on allies was not helpful.
“I thought it was patronising of our friends in the Indo-Pacific in particular,” Duckworth said.
Spending on weapons and research is spiking among some Asian countries as they respond to a darkening security outlook by broadening their outside industrial partnerships while trying to boost their own defence industries, according to a new study by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, the organisation that runs the Shangri-La Dialogue.
The spike comes even as Asian nations spent an average of 1.5% of GDP on defence in 2024, a figure that has kept relatively constant over the last decade, it said.
Hegseth suggested that allies in Europe focus on security on the European continent, so that Washington could focus on the threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific, alongside more participation by allies in Asia.
“We would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent, so that as we partner there, which we will continue to do, we’re able to use our comparative advantage as an Indo-Pacific nation to support our partners here,” he said in response to a question after his speech.
But some of the Trump administration’s early moves in the Indo-Pacific have raised eyebrows. The U.S. moved air defence systems from Asia to the Middle East earlier this year as tensions with Iran spiked – an effort that took 73 C-17 flights.
Hegseth, a former Fox TV host who has spent much of his first months in office focused on domestic issues, spoke to the international audience on topics that he has frequently talked about when in the United States, like “restoring the warrior ethos.”
“We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt our politics or ideology. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues,” Hegseth said. “We respect you, your traditions and your militaries. And we want to work with you where our shared interests align.”
Reporting by Idrees Ali. Additional reporting by Jun Yuan Yong and Fanny Potkin; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Shri Navaratnam
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U.S. Defense Chief Warns of Imminent China Threat, Urges Indo-Pacific Allies to Boost Spending
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He criticized low regional defense expenditures, contrasting them with rising commitments in Europe. His push for higher military spending drew criticism, with one U.S.-based senator calling his tone toward Indo-Pacific allies “patronizing,” despite acknowledging America’s commitment to the region.
Speaking at Asia’s top security forum, Hegseth reinforced the Trump administration’s focus on the Indo-Pacific. He criticized low regional defense expenditures, contrasting them with rising commitments in Europe, where NATO members—“even Germany”—are pledging up to 5% of GDP on defense. He urged Asian partners to match that effort in response to threats from both China and North Korea.
China has increased military exercises near Taiwan and continues to assert its claim over the island, which Taiwan firmly rejects. Hegseth noted that Beijing is credibly preparing for potential military action to shift the power balance in the region.
However, his push for higher military spending drew criticism. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth called his tone toward Indo-Pacific allies “patronizing,” despite acknowledging America’s commitment to the region.
According to a new report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, defense spending in Asia remains around 1.5% of GDP, despite a rise in arms investment and domestic defense industry development.
Hegseth, a former media figure, also addressed themes like “restoring the warrior ethos” and clarified that the U.S. seeks strategic cooperation, not ideological imposition. His remarks come amid scrutiny over the U.S. military’s redeployment of air defense assets from Asia to the Middle East earlier this year.
US Defence Secy Hegseth urges Indo-Pacific nations to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP to counter ‘imminent’ China aggression
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called on Asian nations to increase military spending to counter China’s growing threat in the Indo-Pacific. India, which shares a tense and contested border with China, has its own compelling reasons to remain vigilant. While India has increased military modernisation and infrastructure along the border, its strategic approach remains rooted in maintaining autonomy and avoiding formal alliances, especially those perceived as anti-China. The absence of a senior Chinese official at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was noted. The US is now pivoting its strategic emphasis toward the Indo/Pacific, which he termed Washington’s “priority theatre” He announced expanded joint military exercises, new repair hubs in Australia, and the first live-fire test of a US mid-range missile system in the region. The speech echoed the Trump administration’s core defence themes: expanding military might, securing borders, and reviving controversial plans like “taking back the Panama Canal”
“It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific … There’s no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent.”
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Push for 5% defence spending
Hegseth called on America’s Asian partners to significantly raise their defence budgets—up to 5% of GDP—warning that time is running out to deter a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. He stressed urgency and self-reliance, echoing former President Donald Trump’s earlier demands for burden-sharing, once directed at NATO allies.
“NATO members are pledging to spend 5% of their GDP on defence—even Germany,” he noted. “So it doesn’t make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less on defence in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea?”
Warning against economic dependence on China
Hegseth cautioned regional governments against deepening economic ties with China while simultaneously relying on US security guarantees. He made it clear that a future Trump administration would pursue a NATO-style model in the Indo-Pacific—pressuring allies to invest more in their own security.
“The message is direct: deterrence requires real investment. The Indo-Pacific can no longer afford complacency,” he said.
India, which shares a tense and contested border with China, has its own compelling reasons to remain vigilant. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash underscored the People’s Liberation Army’s assertiveness. While India has increased military modernisation and infrastructure along the border, its strategic approach remains rooted in maintaining autonomy and avoiding formal alliances, especially those perceived as anti-China.
US shifts strategic focus to Indo-Pacific
With Europe showing greater self-reliance amid the Ukraine war, the US is now pivoting its strategic emphasis toward the Indo-Pacific, which Hegseth termed Washington’s “priority theatre.” He announced expanded joint military exercises, new repair hubs in Australia, and the first live-fire test of a US mid-range missile system in the region.
‘Not here to preach, but to partner’
Hegseth emphasised that the US does not seek to impose ideological values on its allies. “We’re not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues,” he said. Instead, he called for alignment based on shared security interests, warning of China’s growing military ambitions. While acknowledging respect for Chinese civilization, he added, “We will not be pushed out of this critical region.”
The absence of a senior Chinese official at the conference was noted. “We are here this morning and, notably, someone else isn’t,” Hegseth remarked. He also indirectly addressed French President Emmanuel Macron’s skepticism over the reliability of US alliances, arguing that alliances must be reciprocal in both perception and reality.
US politics
Hegseth’s remarks echoed the Trump administration’s core defence themes: expanding military might, securing borders, and reviving controversial plans like “taking back the Panama Canal.” He highlighted a proposed $1 trillion defence budget for next year and emphasised new weapon systems, including the Golden Dome.
Responding after Hegseth’s speech, US Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth welcomed the commitment to the Indo-Pacific but criticised his tone as “patronising.” She stressed the importance of unity over dominance, asserting that bipartisan support for Indo-Pacific security is growing in Congress. “We just need to stand together,” she said, emphasising that the goal is not to make countries choose between the US and China, but to uphold international norms together.