U.S. Urges Asian Allies to Boost Defence Spending Amid China's Rising Power

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies to increase military spending to counter China's growing influence while maintaining strong U.S.-China relations. Hegseth emphasized the importance of a robust network of allies and stressed the need for balanced regional power. American military investments and expectations for allied contributions underlined his message.

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, called on Asian allies to enhance military spending to counterbalance China's increasing power in the region. Hegseth highlighted the urgency of a self-reliant network of allies to deter aggression and maintain regional stability.

The Pentagon chief expressed concerns over China's rapid military expansion, urging allies to allocate 3.5% of their GDP for defense as part of a broader strategy to uphold global security. He assured that U.S. military investments and alliances remained robust, suggesting allies share more of the defense burden.

Despite these calls, Hegseth struck a conciliatory tone towards China, lauding improved military-to-military communications. While acknowledging the complex U.S.-China relationship, Chinese delegate Zhou Bo recognized the positive shift in tone compared to last year following diplomatic engagements.