Hegesh assures the allies that we will support them against Chinese aggression

The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, reaffirmed in a speech in Singapore on Saturday that the United States will continue to support American allies in the Indo-Pacific region against Chinese aggression when he warned that Chinese military action against Taiwan could be “imminent.”

Hegseth made his comments on a speech in the annual Shangri-la dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Security Studies and is a high profile of regional and international security leaders.

His comments established how the Trump administration sees the Indo-Pacific region as a “priority theater” and how the United States is prepared to support the allies in a region where China continues to carry out aggressive military actions, particularly against Taiwan and the Philippines.

“We do not seek conflict with communist China. We will not instigate or seek to subjugate or humiliate,” Hegseth said. “President Trump and the American people have immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilization, but we will not be expelled from this critical region. And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated.”

In recent years, China has invested a lot in the construction of its army and increased its naval and aerial presence around Taiwan, participating in the almost daily harassment of Taiwan’s borders, which raises concerns that you are preparing to resume when forcing the nation of the island that considers an escape province.

“Nobody knows what China will finally do,” Hegseth said. “But they are preparing and, therefore, we must be ready too. Urgency and surveillance are our only option.”

“We are preparing for war, to dissuade war, to achieve peace through force,” Hegseth added. “And we look at you, our allies and partners, to unite us in this important work. Our time is now. The threats we face will not wait. Nor can we.”

“To be clear: any communist China attempt to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,” said Hegseth, who emphasized that China could be ready to act before the deadline of 2027 that China’s president, Xi Jinping, had established so that China’s military was prepared for possible actions against Taiwan.

“There is no reason to whip it. The threat that China represents is real. And it could be imminent, we hope not, but it could certainly be,” said Hegseth.

China has also increased tensions with the Philippines, where Chinese military ships regularly harass the Filipino ships operating in the international waters of the South China Sea, since it continues to affirm its territorial claims in the region.

Relationships between the United States and China have also been grated after Trump’s announcement of pronounced tariffs on Chinese imports that led China to announce reciprocal tariffs. Since then, both parties have concluded an unstable temporary agreement to reduce their tariffs.

In his comments, Hegseth said the Trump administration was looking for a “common sense” approach to restore deterrence that includes increasing the US military presence in the Western Pacific, “helping allies and partners to strengthen their defense capabilities and rebuild our industrial defense bases.”

Hegesh encouraged Asian countries to follow the example of NATO nations that have pledged to increase their military expenses to 5% of their gross domestic product, since the Trump administration has declared that they want them to be more owners of their security commitments in Europe.

“President Trump and I will count on you in this Chamber, our allies and partners, to force peace multipliers along with the United States,” said Hegseth. “We ask, and in fact, we insist that our allies and partners do their part in defense.”

He added: “Sometimes, this means having uncomfortable and difficult conversations. The partners owe it to others to be honest and realistic. This is the essence of a pragmatic and common sense foreign policy.”

Hegseth emphasized that the administration’s approach does not mean that United States allies have to go alone in possible military actions.

“You will also see that we are, and we will remain, loyal to our allies and partners. In fact, the only way to guarantee alliances and lasting associations is to make sure that each side does its part,” he said.

Hegseth added: “We will be with you and your side to deter Chinese aggression,” Hegseth said.

The forum is sometimes an opportunity for high -level meetings among the main US and Chinese defense leaders in times of increasing tension. But in an apparent Desaira, China’s Minister of Defense did not attend this year’s forum and, on the other hand, China was represented by a delegation from his University of National Defense.

“We cannot realize whether or not China is here or not, but we are happy to be, and we believe it makes the region more stable and more peaceful,” Hegseth told reporters when they were asked to comment on China’s decision.

China’s growing aggression in the region has been an important issue of the conference that included an opening speech by French president Emmanuel Macron, who has been touring the nations of Southeast Asia to emphasize the role of France in the region.

On Friday night, Hegseth sat at the audience when Macron emphasized the importance of a new alliance between European and Asian nations to avoid becoming “collateral victims of decisions taken by superpowers”, a reference to the United States and China.

Macron warned against a loss of credibility for the order based on international rules if the United States applies it differently with respect to China while trying to resolve the war in Ukraine by allowing Russia to maintain the Ukrainian territory seized as the Trump administration has proposed.

“If we consider that Russia could be allowed to take a part of the territory of Ukraine without any restriction, without any restriction, without any reaction of the global order, how could what could happen in Taiwan?” Macron said. “What would you do the day something happens in the Philippines?”

“What is at stake in Ukraine is our common credibility, which we can still preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of people,” Macron said. “There are no double standards.”