Pete Hegseth: "China's ambitions have grown"
Achieving peace and deterrence through strength with Indo-Pacific allies
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, "We do not seek conflict with anyone, including the Chinese Communist Party regime, but we will deter any attempts at armed provocation."
On May 28 (local time), before departing for the annual Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue) in Singapore, Secretary Hegseth met with reporters at an air force base near Washington, D.C. He said, "We will stand firm for our interests," emphasizing this stance.
He noted, "China's ambitions have grown," and stressed, "Under this administration (the Trump administration), we will work with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to achieve peace and deterrence based on strength."
Secretary Hegseth's remarks indicate that the main focus of his visit to Singapore is to strengthen regional security cooperation to counter China. As the first Secretary of Defense to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue since the launch of the second Trump administration, Hegseth will deliver a speech at the plenary session on May 31. During his visit, he will also pursue trilateral and multilateral security meetings with major Asian countries. In this regard, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that a meeting of the defense ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines may be held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
The Shangri-La Dialogue has drawn attention as a venue for talks between the defense chiefs of the United States and China, but this year, it remains uncertain whether such a meeting will take place. Dong Jun, China's Minister of National Defense, is reportedly not expected to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue.
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