The United States Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, gave assurances on Saturday to allies within the Indo-Pacific region that the U.S. wouldn’t abandon them in the face of mounting military and economic pressures from China. He urged these allies to also increase their own defensive contributions. Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. plans to enhance its overseas defenses in response to the perceived rapid accelerations of threats by Beijing, particularly its aggressive posture towards Taiwan.
According to Hegseth, Beijing has been conducting numerous drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan, an independently governed island that China considers its own and which the U.S. is determined to protect. Hegseth, in his keynote speech at a security conference, stated that China’s army is ‘rehearsing for an actual operation.’ He emphasized the severity of the threat that China poses, asserting that it is a real and potentially imminent danger.
Responding to Hegseth’s comments, the head of China’s delegation accused him of promulgating ‘baseless allegations.’ The vice president of China’s National Defense University, who did not specify which particular allegations he was referring to, implied that Hegseth’s claims ranged from complete fabrications, distortions of facts, to examples of hypocrisy. He accused the U.S. of stoking conflict, sowing division and promoting confrontation in a bid to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region.
China openly aims to develop a military capable of potentially retaking Taiwan by force if required by 2027. This timeline, as analysts suggest, is an aspirational target rather than a firm deadline for war. Moreover, China has constructed advanced, artificial islands within the South China Sea to accommodate new military posts and has demonstrated sophisticated hypersonic and space capabilities. These developments are encouraging the U.S. to design its space-based missile defense system.
In his address at the global security conference, Hegseth noted that China’s build-up of its military force is no longer just for the potential takeover of Taiwan; Beijing is ‘actively training for it, every day.’ Hegseth also pushed for Indo-Pacific nations to boost their defense spending to a level that matches the 5% of their GDP that European nations are currently asked to contribute. He emphasized that responsibility should be shared among all partners.
After Hegseth’s speech, the European Union’s top diplomat challenged Hegseth’s suggestion that European nations should concentrate their defensive efforts at home while leaving the Indo-Pacific region primarily to the U.S. She argued that given the current political and military alliances, European and Asian security is intertwined.
Despite the Obama and Biden administrations’ previous commitment to focus more on the Pacific, this strategic shift was never fully achieved. U.S. military resources from the Indo-Pacific have frequently been redeployed to support military needs in the Middle East and Europe. Hegseth, on the other hand, underscored the necessity for U.S. allies and partners to increase their defense spending and readiness.
Hegseth pointed out the pivotal role played by the network of resolute and capable allies and partners in securing strategic advantage. Yet, nations in the Indo-Pacific region find themselves in a precarious position, as they try to balance their relations with both the mighty U.S. and China. For many, China is their primary trade partner, but Beijing’s assertive claims on resources such as crucial fisheries have earned it an image of a regional intimidator.
The Defense Secretary warned that countries attempting to maintain a balance, by seeking military aid from the U.S. while depending on China economically, would face risks. Hegseth argued that economic reliance on China tends to extend their harmful influence and may complicate U.S.’ defense actions during periods of tensions.
Australia’s Defense Minister concurred with Hegseth’s reassurances that the Indo-Pacific is a strategic priority for America. He also agreed with the notion that Australia and other nations in the region must contribute more towards their own defense. He pointed out that a balanced power dynamic in the region without the U.S. is unrealistic, but at the same time, the responsibility of maintaining that balance should not fall on the U.S. alone.
In a notable gesture, China did not send its defense minister to this year’s conference. The U.S. delegation saw this as an opportunity and stated it planned to leverage this absence. When questioned by a member of the Chinese delegation on the U.S.’ commitment in case of disagreement with Asian alliances like ASEAN, Hegseth affirmed that the U.S. would not be tied down by ‘past administrations’ perspectives on the region.’
Hegseth expressed the U.S.’ willingness to embrace a broad range of countries, including those traditionally considered allies, as well as newer partners. Hegseth assured these nations that U.S. support would not be conditional upon alignment with the West on sensitive issues such as culture or climate.