Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a powerful speech Saturday at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore — signaling a dramatic Trump-era shift in U.S. foreign policy, one that places deterrence, sovereignty, and peace through strength at the center of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
Hegseth, a veteran and warrior-statesman with zero patience for woke foreign policy fluff, made it crystal clear: The United States will not bow to communist China — nor will it tolerate the bullying of our allies in the region.
According to Defense.gov:
The future vision for the Indo-Pacific is one “grounded in common sense and national interests,” Hegseth said, where the U.S. and its allies work together while respecting their mutual self-interests and engaging on the basis of sovereignty and commerce, as opposed to war.
The secretary pointed out, as President Donald J. Trump continues to lead European allies to step up in their self-defense, the U.S. can then focus more resources on the Indo-Pacific region.
“This enables all of us to benefit from the peace and stability that comes with a lasting and strong American presence here in the Indo-Pacific,” Hegseth said.
“These benefits, they only multiply when our allies and partners are also strong,” he added.
Regarding American influence in the region, Hegseth said the U.S. isn’t interested in the approach to foreign policy of the past.
“We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace and adopt our politics or ideology; we are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues; [and] we are not here to impose our will on you. We are all sovereign nations,” Hegseth said, adding the U.S. seeks to work with its allies in areas where mutual interests align for peace and prosperity.
“On this sure foundation of mutual interests and common sense, we will build and strengthen our defense partnerships to preserve peace and increase prosperity,” he said.
Pivoting to the threat China poses to the region, Hegseth made clear the U.S. is not actively seeking conflict.
“We do not seek conflict with communist China. … But we will not be pushed out of this critical region and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated” he said.
Noting China is “credibly preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific,” Hegseth said any attempt by China to conquer neighboring Taiwan would result in “devastating consequences” not just for the Indo-Pacific, but the entire world.
While once again reiterating the U.S. seeks peace as opposed to war, Hegseth said the U.S. must also be prepared for armed conflict.
“If deterrence fails — and if called upon by [the] commander in chief — we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best: to fight and win, decisively,” he said.
Not surprisingly, China’s communist regime responded with the usual tantrums, propaganda, and gaslighting.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Hegseth of “Cold War mentality” and claimed the U.S. was “the only hegemonic power” in the region.
Beijing even had the audacity to say America was “turning the region into a powder keg”—despite being the very regime militarizing artificial islands, threatening Taiwan with invasion, and building a surveillance state that spans the globe.
Q: It’s reported that in his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth repeatedly warned of the so-called “threat” China poses and made negative comments on Taiwan, the South China Sea and so on. What’s China’s comment?
A: Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a “threat.” The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S.
No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. To perpetuate its hegemony and advance the so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy,” the U.S. has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned.
The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair. No country is in a position to interfere. The U.S. should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China. The U.S. must never play with fire on this question. China urges the U.S. to fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and stop supporting and emboldening the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. On the South China Sea, there has never been any problem with regard to freedom of navigation and overflight there. China has always been committed to working with countries concerned to properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, while safeguarding China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations. It is the U.S. who is the primary factor that is hurting the peace and stability in the South China Sea.
China urges the US to fully respect the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability, stop deliberately destroying the peaceful and stable environment cherished by the region, and stop inciting conflict and confrontation and escalating tensions in the region.
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