During his recent trip to Asia, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a significant statement about the United States’ approach to China. Speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, he emphasized that the U.S. aims to deter what he described as aggressive actions by China, which he believes seeks to dominate the region.
Hegseth’s remarks were clear. He warned that China is trying to become a leading power in Asia, aiming to control many areas within the region. However, he also reassured that the U.S. does not want war. He stated, “We do not seek to dominate or strangle China, to encircle or provoke. We do not seek regime change.” This dual approach of warning against China while advocating for peace marked a notable tone during his speech.
Retired Chinese Air Force Colonel Zhou Bo, now a senior fellow in Beijing, responded to Hegseth’s comments. He noted that Hegseth’s speech was harsher than those by previous U.S. defense secretaries. Zhou suggested that Hegseth is pushing countries in the region to choose sides in the ongoing rivalry between the U.S. and China. He remarked that while China does not expect countries to pick sides, many nations are cautious. For instance, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed a desire for Southeast Asia to maintain a stance of nonalignment, seeking cooperation without coercion.
There are growing concerns among U.S. allies about the potential consequences of America’s focus on China. For example, South Korea is worried that the U.S. might reduce its military presence on the Korean Peninsula to strengthen its defense of Taiwan against China. South Korea views North Korea, with its nuclear capabilities, as its primary security threat.
Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, pointed out that U.S.-Korea relations are more complex than just the issue of China. He emphasized that the U.S. must consider broader interests in the region. Although the Pentagon has denied any plans to withdraw troops from South Korea, it maintains that it needs the flexibility to deploy forces where they are most needed.
Hegseth’s visit and speech at the Shangri-la Dialogue highlight the delicate balance the U.S. is trying to strike in Asia, as it faces increasing competition with China while also addressing the security concerns of its allies.