The US Secretary for Defense called for Asian countries to strengthen their military spending to increase regional deterrence against China, which “repeated for the real case” when it comes to taking over Taiwan.
Pete Hegseth, addressing Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, reiterated the commitments to increase the American presence in Indo-Pacific and described a range of new joint projects, including access to the repair of ships and military aircraft, including in Australia.
“American allies in Indo-Pacific can and should upgrade their own defenses,” said Hegseth.
“It must be clear for all that Beijing is credible to potentially use the military force to modify the balance of powers in the Indo-Pacific … There is no reason to cover it with sugar. The threat that China poses is real, and it could be imminent. ”
He said that Donald Trump’s administration had has prompted European countries to increase their defensive expensesAssuming a greater “burden” response to conflicts in their region, and it was time for Asian nations to do the same.
Hegseth, who in March was revealed to have said A group of signals discusses that Europe was “pathetic” and “freeloading” On the support of American security in the region, said at the Singapore conference that it was “hard to believe” that it said now, but Asian countries should “consider allies in Europe as a new example”.
“Deterrence does not come cheap … Time is gasoline.”
A new study by the organization leading the Singapore The event, the International Institute of Strategic Studies based in London, has revealed that Asian weapons and research expenses are currently boosting, in addition to what it said is a relatively coherent annual expenditure of 1.5% of GDP.
Hegseth said that the European objective renewed in their region-in particular the Russian-Ukraine war-has enabled the United States to focus on its “priority theater” in Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth said that the United States had not sought to “put pressure” on Asian countries to “adopt or adopt policies or ideologies”, but rather wanted to “work with you where our common interests align for peace and prosperity”.
“We are not here to preach climate change or cultural problems,” he said. “But a threat is gathering.
“We are not looking for a conflict with Communist China. We will not seek to inform, subjugate or humiliate China. President Trump and the United States have immense respect for China and their civilization. But we will not be expelled from this critical region. ”
In his speech, Hegseth also made a blow on the absence of any high -level Chinese delegate during this year’s conference. “We are here this morning and, in particular, someone else is not,” he said.
Hegseth also seemed to refer Comments by French President, Emmanuel Macron, during the conference on Friday That “a feeling that (the promise of the United States) might not be so to bury is not part of a new instability”.
“An alliance cannot be all about if in reality or in perception, it is unilateral,” said HegSeth on Saturday. “While the allies share the burden, we can increase our concentration on Indo-Pacific, our priority theater.”
He said the United States would carry out his “very first live shooting test of his mid-range capacity system in Australia” in the coming months and had expanded joint cooperation and exercises. It would also establish repair and capacity capacity programs in the region, including for Radar P-8 systems in Australia for the United States and its allies, while expanding contracts for regional ship reparation.
Hegseth’s speech reiterated a large part of the Trump administration and security position – blaming the previous administration for problems, committing to strengthen the American army and secure the American border against unregulated immigration, while repeating plans to “take up the Panama Canal”.
He said Trump spent 1 TN – an increase of 13% – in defense next year, citing advanced weapons plans, including the controversial golden dome.
Speaking in Singapore after Hegseth’s address, American Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth told journalists-including the Guardian-that his comments on the United States remaining in the Indo-Pacific region were welcome, but he found his words “condescending of our friends in Indo-Pacific in particular”.
“I must say his idea that we are going to wrap around you – we don’t need this kind of language. We just need to stick together,” said Duckworth.
“The United States does not ask people to choose between the United States and (China) … But we will make sure that international standards are maintained and ask our friends to help us.”
Duckworth, who co-directs a bipartite delegation which also visited Taiwan, said that the Trump administration “acts very quickly, but very incompetence”.
“The point that I underline during this trip is that it is not only the Hegseth Secretary and the Trump administration,” she said. “Bipartite support for Indo Pacific to the Legislative Assembly increases in fact.”
