US won't let China impose 'hegemony' in Asia, Hegseth says
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States will not allow China to dominate Asia during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He emphasized the need for allies to increase their defense spending and highlighted the US's commitment to maintaining a stable balance of power in the region. Notably, he did not address the issue of Taiwan, which has been a focal point of US-China tensions.
- ▪Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, asserting that the US will prevent China from imposing hegemony in Asia.
- ▪He called for allies to invest more in defense and emphasized the importance of a stable regional balance of power.
- ▪Hegseth did not mention Taiwan in his speech, despite ongoing concerns regarding US arms sales to the island.
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Pete Hegseth tells Shangri-La Dialogue that US won't allow China to dominate AsiaBy foreign affairs reporter Stephen DziedzicTopic:World PoliticsSat 30 May 2026 at 2:19pmSat 30 May 2026 at 2:19pmSat 30 May 2026 at 2:19pmPete Hegseth spoke at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday. (Reuters: Edgar Su)In short:America will not allow China to dominate Asia, Pete Hegseth has told Asia's premier defence summit.Mr Hegseth did not mention Taiwan in his speech, as questions continue to swirl over a stalled weapons package.Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles warned about the risks to subsea cables after damage to the critical arteries in both the Baltic Sea and the Taiwan…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).