Hegseth convinces the allies that we will support them against Chinese aggression

Defense Minister Pete Hegseth emphasized that in his speech in Singapore on Saturday that the United States would continue to support US allies in the Indo-Pacific region against Chinese aggression when he warned that Chinese military action against Taiwan could “immediately.”

Hegseth made his remarks in his speech at Shangri-La Annual Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for security studies and was a high meeting of regional and international security leaders.

His statement puts how Trump’s administration sees the Indo-Pacific region as a “priority theater” and how the US is ready to stand near the allies in the area where China continues to carry out aggressive military actions, especially against Taiwan and the Philippines.

“We are not looking for conflicts with communist China. We will not incite or try to conquer or embarrass,” Hegseth said. “President Trump and the American people highly respect their Chinese and their civilizations, but we will not be expelled from this critical area. And we will not let our allies and partners subordinated and intimidated.”

In recent years, China has invested a lot in building its military and increasing the presence of the navy and air around Taiwan, involved in harassment almost every day against the Taiwan border – increasing the concern that he was preparing to reclaim the island state which he considered a separate province.

“No one knows what China will finally do,” Hegseth said. “But they are preparing and we must be prepared too. The urgency and vigilance are our only choice.”

“We are preparing for war, to prevent war – to achieve peace through strength,” Hegseth added. “And we see you – our allies and partners – to join us in this important work. We are now. The threat we face will not wait. We also can’t.”

“For more details: every Chinese communist effort to conquer Taiwan by force will produce a destroying consequence for Indo-Pacific and the world,” said Hegseth who emphasized that China might be ready to act faster than the 2027 deadline that Chinese President Xi Jinping had been established for the Chinese military to be prepared for possible actions against Taiwan.

“There is no reason to sue him. The threat caused by China is real. And that could have happened soon – we hope not, but of course we can,” Hegseth said.

China has also increased tension with the Philippines in which Chinese military ships regularly harass the Philippine ships operating in the international waters of the South China Sea because they continue to emphasize their territorial claims in the region.

The relationship between the US and China also deteriorated after Trump’s announcement about steep tariffs on Chinese imports that made China announce the reciprocal tariff. Both parties have signed a temporary agreement that is shaken to reduce their tariffs.

In his remarks, Hegseth said Trump’s government was pursuing a “common sense” approach to rebuilding the prevention that included increasing the presence of the US military in the Western Pacific, “helping the Allies and partners strengthens their defense capabilities, and by rebuilding our defense industry base.”

Hegseth encourages Asian countries to follow the examples of NATO countries that have made a commitment to increase their military expenditure to 5% of their gross domestic product because Trump’s administration has stated that they want them to take more ownership of their security commitments in Europe.

“President Trump and I will rely on you in this room – our allies and partners – to be a multiplier of peace with the United States,” Hegseth said. “We are wondering – and indeed, we insist – that our allies and partners do their parts in defense.”

He added, “Sometimes, this means having an uncomfortable and difficult conversation. Mitra owes him to be honest and realistic. This is the core of a pragmatic, reasonable foreign policy.”

Hegseth stressed that the administrative approach does not mean that American allies must do it themselves in potential military actions.

“You will also see that we – and will remain loyal to our allies and partners. In fact, the only way to ensure the lasting alliance and partnership is to ensure that each party does the part,” he said.

Hegseth added, “We will stand with you and beside you to prevent Chinese aggression,” Hegseth said.

This forum is sometimes an opportunity for high-level meetings between US and Chinese defense leaders during the increase in tension. But in a clear insult, the Minister of Defense China did not attend this year’s forum and vice versa China was represented by a delegation from the National Defense University.

“We cannot explain whether China is here or not, but we are happy we, and we think it makes the area more stable and more peaceful,” Hegseth told reporters when asked to comment on China’s decision.

The increase in Chinese aggression in this region has become the main topic of the conference which includes the opening speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, who has traveled around Southeast Asian countries to emphasize the role of France in the region.

On Friday night, Hegseth sat among the audience when Macron stressed the importance of new alliances between European and Asian countries to avoid being “victims of decisions made by superpowers” – references to the United States and China.

Macron warned of the loss of credibility for international praise -based orders if applied differently by the US in connection with China while efforts to complete the war in Ukraine by allowing Russia to continue to confiscate the Ukraine region as proposed by Trump’s administration.

“If we assume that Russia can be allowed to take part of the Ukraine region without any restrictions, without obstacles, without the reaction of the global order, how do you express what can happen in Taiwan?” Macron said. “What will you do on a day something happened in the Philippines?”

“What is at stake in Ukraine is our general credibility, that we can still preserve territorial integrity and people’s sovereignty,” Macron said. “There is no double standard.”