US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, ahead of and in the context of recent US-China engagement. Multiple outlets report that his remarks are closely watched in Beijing and by Washington’s regional partners, particularly because Taiwan remains a central point of contention in China-US relations. Several reports say Hegseth reaffirms elements of the US Indo-Pacific approach, including deterrence posture tied to the first island chain, while describing a softer overall tone than last year. Korea Times and the South China Morning Post report that Hegseth characterises US-China relations as “better than they have been in many years” and praises outcomes of the Xi-Trump summit in Beijing as historic. Other coverage also notes that Chinese delegates and experts speak in parallel sessions, including warnings against “hegemonism,” while Japan’s defence leadership rejects claims of a new militarism. Bloomberg and Channel NewsAsia add that the dialogue features discussions among multiple Asia-Pacific allies about regional security amid broader geopolitical tensions. Additional reporting points to defence spending and ally burden-sharing as recurring themes during the conference.
US Defence Secretary Hegseth adopts milder tone on China at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, ahead of and in the context of recent US-China engagement. Multiple outlets report that his remarks are cl...
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday.
- Hegseth presents a less confrontational tone toward China than he did at the same event last year.
- Multiple outlets report Hegseth links his remarks to recent Xi-Trump US-China summit outcomes and calls US-China relations “better than they have been in many years.”
- China-related security issues, including Taiwan, remain a key focus for observers watching the speech.
- The conference also discusses regional security concerns and defence spending/commitment levels among participating countries.
Listening to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, I thought of the iconic Sichuan opera act of face-changing, where performers switch masks in an instant. Last year, Hegseth’s speech at the event was filled with blatant attacks on China. This year, he put on a completely different face, declaring that: “Under President Trump’s leadership, relations between the United States and China are better than they’ve been in many years.” Why this...
2 months agoUS Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told Asia’s biggest military conference that his country’s relations with China were “better than they’ve been in many years”, as he adopted a much less strident tone than at the same event 12 months ago. “President Trump and this administration seek a stable peace, fair trade and respectful relations with China,” Hegseth said on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The two countries agreed to “build a constructive relationship of strategic...
2 months agoUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised stabilised ties with China at the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, as Chinese delegate Major General Meng Xiangqing warned against hegemonism and Japanese military expansion, while Japan’s Defence Minister dismissed claims of a “new militarism”. Read the full text of all three speeches below. Major General Meng Xiangqing: Remarks by Professor Meng Xiangqing, Head of the PLA Delegation of Experts and Scholars, National Defence U... by...
2 months agoUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised defense allies in Asia and hailed newly stable ties with China at an Asia security forum in Singapore. Key US allies in the region also spoke about the security impact of geopolitical tensions both in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Bloomberg's China Correspondent Minmin Low breaks down the latest. (Source: Bloomberg)
2 months agoAs the Shangri-La Dialogue drew to a close on Sunday, two issues dominated discussions throughout the event: defence spending and the varying level of commitment of countries to maintain peace in the region after calls by Washington for its allies and others to pull their weight. Analysts said the 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product for defence spending proposed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was not something that most Asean countries – aside from Singapore – could commit to. Hegseth...
2 months agoThe US has addressed defence leaders in Singapore, outlining America's geopolitical goals.
2 months ago
Iceland referendum on resuming EU membership talks set for close result
Icelanders vote on Saturday in a referendum on whether to resume accession negotiations with the European Union, with po...
Mike Lindell seeks recount of Minnesota GOP governor primary after loss to Lisa Demuth
Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder and Trump ally, is pursuing a ballot recount in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial...
Nepal army digs into hydropower tunnels to reach workers missing after flood disaster
Nepal’s army is carrying out rescue efforts at hydropower tunnels after catastrophic flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border...