Hegseth Vows US Support for Indo-Pacific Allies, Warns of ‘Imminent’ China Threat
Udumbara
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged on Saturday that the United States would continue to support Indo-Pacific allies in maintaining peace and stability, as he warned of an imminent military threat from China.
Hegseth warned that any attempt by Beijing to seize the democratically-ruled island could potentially result in “devastating consequences” for both the region and the world.
“There’s no reason to sugarcoat it: the threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” he said.
Hegseth urged Indo-Pacific nations to increase their defense spending to bolster military capabilities, citing NATO members’ commitment to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.
“How can it make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies and partners in Asia spend far less in the face of a far more formidable threat from Communist China, not to mention North Korea,” he said.
Hegseth said the Trump administration aims to re-establish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific by enhancing its “forward force posture” in the Western Pacific, helping allies bolster their defense capabilities, and rebuilding its defense industrial bases.
The Pentagon chief said that President Donald Trump has vowed not to allow China to invade Taiwan on his watch, calling on regional allies to work alongside the United States in efforts to prevent potential war.
He reiterated that the United States has no intention of engaging in conflict with China. But Washington refused to “be pushed out of this critical region” and will not allow its allies to be subordinated, he added.
“Let me again be clear: The United States does not seek war. We do not seek to dominate or strangle China,” he stated. “But we must ensure that China cannot dominate us—or our allies and partners.”
Hegseth said that if deterrence fails, the United States “will be prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best—fight and win—decisively.”
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the security forum for unspecified reasons, but Beijing sent a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University in his place.
Hegseth stated in his memo that the Army must prioritize investments that align with the Trump administration’s strategy and ensure existing resources are utilized to enhance capabilities such as long-range precision fire, air and missile defense, cyber and electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities.
Beijing also asserted territorial claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, including reefs that overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
