U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the United States has “rightful alarm” about China’s military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in and beyond the region. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a forum that brings together defence leaders and diplomats, he urges Asian allies to increase defence spending to counter China’s growing power and reduce the risk of China dominating the region.
Multiple outlets report that Hegseth’s remarks focus on the pace and scale of China’s expanded capabilities, presenting the issue as a collective security challenge for partners. While his message emphasizes deterrence through increased regional defence funding, at least one account notes that he takes a more moderate tone on broader U.S.-China relations and does not highlight Taiwan during his comments.
Overall, the sources agree that Hegseth calls for closer defence alignment and higher budgets among regional allies, framing China’s buildup as a near-term concern rather than a distant development.
