US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday called on Asian allies and partners to significantly increase defense spending to counter China’s growing military power, warning that Beijing’s rapid military expansion is causing “rightful alarm” across the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier security forum attended by defense ministers, military leaders and diplomats, Hegseth argued that stronger and more self-reliant allies are essential to maintaining regional stability and deterring potential aggression.
“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” Hegseth said.
The Pentagon chief warned that any attempt by a single power to dominate the Pacific would undermine the region’s balance of power.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” he said. “No state, including China, can impose hegemony and hold the security of our nation and our allies in question.”
Hegseth said Washington expects its Asian allies and partners to raise defense spending to 3.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP), while highlighting the United States’ own commitment to military investment. He noted that the US plans to invest $1.5 trillion in its armed forces as part of broader efforts to strengthen deterrence and maintain security commitments in the region.
Despite his warning about China’s military growth, Hegseth stressed that the goal is stability rather than confrontation.
“What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick,” he said.
The defense secretary also struck a more conciliatory note on US-China relations, saying ties between Washington and Beijing are currently “better than they have been in many years.” He pointed to increased military-to-military engagement as a positive development.
“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication,” Hegseth said.
‘No freeloading’
Hegseth’s remarks echoed President Donald Trump’s long-standing demand that US allies shoulder a greater share of their own defense costs.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly urged allies in Europe and Asia to boost military spending and reduce their dependence on Washington’s security guarantees.
“The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth said.
“We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”
The comments underscore the Trump administration’s push for greater burden-sharing among allies while maintaining a strong US military presence aimed at countering China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific.
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