U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the Shangri La Dialogue meeting in Singapore today, threatening China with containment unless it stops its alleged aggression in the region. According to a DOD News report, Hegseth began his remarks by “underscoring” the Defense Department’s priorities of achieving peace through strength by focusing on restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence. He then used the topic of deterrence—noting, specifically, that U.S. allies around the world are beginning to invest more in their self-defense—to segue into speaking about the Indo-Pacific region. “As our allies share the burden, we can increase our focus on the Indo-Pacific: our priority theater,” Hegseth said.
The future vision for the Indo-Pacific is one “grounded in common sense and national interests,” Hegseth said, where the U.S. and its allies work together while respecting their mutual self-interests and engaging on the basis of sovereignty and commerce, as opposed to war. Hegseth said that as President Donald Trump continues to lead European allies to step up in their self-defense, the U.S. can then focus more resources on the Indo-Pacific region. “This enables all of us to benefit from the peace and stability that comes with a lasting and strong American presence here in the Indo-Pacific,” Hegseth said.
Then Hegseth targeted China. “We do not seek conflict with communist China. … But we will not be pushed out of this critical region and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated” he said. Claiming that China is “credibly preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific,” Hegseth said any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan would result in “devastating consequences” not just for the Indo-Pacific, but the entire world.
