Hegseth warns of China’s growing power, urges US allies in Asia to increase military spending
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has stirred up allies in Asia to increase their military spending to counter China’s “historic military buildup.”
Speaking at the annual Asian military leaders and diplomats forum known as Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday, Hegseth expressed Washington’s “alarm” over China’s growing military and political clout as it aims to rally its East Asian allies against Beijing, seen by Washington as its main strategic enemy.
“When we look across the region today, there is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” Hegseth said.
To counter this, Hegseth claimed, Washington seeks a “favorable but durable balance of power.”
“What we seek ... is a genuinely stable equilibrium that works for Americans as well as our allies.”
Hegseth claimed Washington is in pursuit of “a favorable but durable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
However, the Pentagon chief said, the US cannot support its allies any longer and expects them to spend at least 3.5 percent of their GDP on their military, including the purchase of arms and munitions.
He also said that the era of wealthy US allies “freeloading” is over. He said US allies are required to shoulder the expenses of the wars themselves if they want security from the United States. “The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over ... No freeloading.”
The remarks come amid rising international tensions attributed to US war-mongering, particularly the US-Israeli war on Iran, destabilizing world peace and disrupting global markets.
Hegseth also said that the United States is “more than capable” of resuming its war on Iran.
US President Donald Trump has told US allies, particularly Arabs and NATO states, that he wanted them to increase their military spending and foot the bill for any future world conflicts.
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