US defence chief urges Asian allies to raise military spending amid China concerns

SINGAPORE: United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday called on Washington’s Asian allies to increase defence spending, warning that China’s military expansion was causing what he described as justified concern and saying a stronger regional network was needed to deter aggression.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a major regional gathering of defence officials, military leaders and diplomats, Hegseth said the United States wanted allies and partners in Asia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product. He said Washington was committing $1.5 trillion to its own military and argued that regional partners should also contribute more to maintaining security.

Hegseth said China’s military growth and wider regional activity had raised concern. He warned that any single power dominating the Pacific would upset the regional balance. In remarks directed at the broader strategic contest in Asia, he said the United States was seeking to prevent any country from imposing hegemony in a way that could threaten the security and prosperity of the US and its allies.

At the same time, he said allies were seeking stability rather than escalation and presented the US role as one of steady and disciplined strength. He also said ties between Washington and Beijing were currently better than they had been in years, adding that more regular military-to-military contacts were helping both sides manage tensions.

Attributing the policy to the Trump administration’s broader approach, Hegseth repeated President Donald Trump’s long-standing position that allies should bear a larger share of their own defence burden. He said the period in which the United States underwrote the defence of wealthy countries had ended, and stressed that Washington wanted partners rather than dependants.

He praised defence contributions from South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking practical steps to strengthen its military capabilities. Referring to the US-Japan alliance, he said both countries needed to do their part to reinforce the partnership.

Iran and Taiwan issues

On the Middle East, Hegseth said the United States was prepared to resume strikes on Iran if diplomatic efforts failed. He said President Trump remained patient and was pursuing what he called a strong agreement to ensure Iran did not acquire a nuclear weapon. Hegseth also rejected the suggestion that developments in the Middle East would pull US attention away from the Asia-Pacific, saying Washington could manage both at once.

Asked about possible arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth said he was confident about US weapons stockpiles despite concerns linked to the Middle East conflict. Taiwan is awaiting US approval for an arms package that could be worth as much as $14 billion. Trump had introduced uncertainty over the matter after saying, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this month, that he had not decided whether to approve the package.

Hegseth said any future decision on arms sales to Taiwan would be made by Trump, indicating there had been no change in Washington’s established position despite recent engagement with Beijing.

In his speech, Hegseth said: "There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,"

He also said: "The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over,"

On Iran, he said: "Our ability to recommence if necessary … we are more than capable,"