U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassures Pacific allies at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the United States remains committed to security in the Indo-Pacific. Multiple outlets report that he also walks back earlier, sharper language in which he described China as an imminent or direct threat. Speaking to world leaders, diplomats and senior security officials, Hegseth emphasizes that the region has major implications for U.S. security and prosperity and that Washington’s priority is to pursue a durable, favorable balance of power in the Pacific.
Several reports note that this year’s remarks follow previous comments that drew criticism from Beijing, including warnings that China’s military buildup and activities related to Taiwan were escalating. This year’s conference comes after a U.S. presidential visit to China, during which President Donald Trump met Xi Jinping and publicly praised him, according to one account.
Overall, the coverage depicts a shift in tone rather than a declared change in U.S. commitments: Hegseth maintains the U.S. security focus in the Pacific while using less alarmist language about China than in prior addresses.
