China aims to alter Indo-Pacific status quo, Pete Hegseth warns at Shangri-La Dialogue
Pentagon chief urges US allies to step up defence spending in the face of ‘real’ and ‘imminent’ threat posed by Beijing
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Indo-Pacific defence chiefs on Saturday that China wanted to “fundamentally alter the region’s status quo”, and that American allies must step up defence investments.
He said this included Beijing’s efforts to build the capacity to take over Taiwan by force by 2027, while adding that “President [Donald] Trump has also said that Communist China will not invade Taiwan on his watch”.
He said that while the United States did not seek war or to humiliate China, “it has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific”.
He appealed to senior officials in the region, saying that Washington “counts on” American allies and partners to do their part on defence.
“An alliance cannot be ironclad if in reality or perception, it is seen as one-sided. That is changing, and that is very important,” he said after mentioning Washington’s expectation for Nato members to spend 5 per cent of their gross domestic product on defence.
He questioned whether it “makes sense for countries in Europe to do that, while key allies in Asia spend less on defence in the face of an even more formidable threat”.