US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that "no state, including China" should be permitted to impose hegemony in Asia, calling for a "genuinely stable equilibrium" backed by allies willing to spend at least 3.5 percent of GDP on their own defense [2][7]. The speech, delivered on May 30, combined warnings of "rightful alarm" over China's military buildup with an ultimatum that the era of the United States subsidizing wealthy nations' security "has terminated" [1][6][8].
Hegseth framed the demand in transactional terms. "Allies who refuse to step up and carry their own weight will face a clear shift in how we do business," he said [1]. States that increase spending would be treated as "model allies" and receive prioritized arms sales, while those that fail to meet the threshold would face a changed US approach [11]. South Korea's plan to raise defense expenditure to 3.5 percent of GDP was cited approvingly [16], and Hegseth praised Malaysia and ASEAN for deploying an observer team to the Thailand-Cambodia border as a concrete burden-sharing contribution [22]. Japan, which is moving toward 2 percent of GDP, was signaled to do more [10]. Japanese coverage in the Yomiuri Shimbun reported the demand with a headline that quoted Hegseth declaring "ただ乗りは終わりだ" (Free-riding is over) [15].
The burden-sharing message carried direct consequences beyond Asia. Le Figaro reported that the Pentagon is reducing its combat brigades stationed in Europe from four to three [17]. Deutsche Welle's German-language coverage noted Hegseth cited European countries, including Germany, as models for the 3.5 percent benchmark, linking the Asia pivot to pressure on European allies to fill the gap left by a reduced US presence [18].
On Taiwan, Hegseth described the threat China poses as "real" and potentially "imminent" [13][19]. BBC Chinese reported him calling China a "hegemonic power" seeking to dominate large parts of Asia [13]. RFI Chinese described the remarks as Hegseth's "strongest statement yet" on Taiwan and reported that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately lodged a formal diplomatic protest, condemning the statements as interference in China's internal affairs and as actions that destabilize the Taiwan Strait [14]. Chinese leader Xi Jinping had separately warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to a US-China clash [5].
Yet the strength of Hegseth's rhetoric on Taiwan sat alongside uncertainty about US policy. President Donald Trump called a paused $14 billion Taiwan arms package "a very good negotiating chip" after meeting Xi Jinping [5]. Hegseth deferred any decision on the package to the president [3][7]. The Hill reported conflicting explanations from US officials about the pause, noting anxiety among regional allies over the reliability of American security commitments [12]. The gap between Hegseth's characterization of an imminent Chinese threat and Trump's treatment of the arms sale as a bargaining instrument was noted across English-language coverage [3][5][7][12].
China's own posture at the forum drew attention. Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend, and Beijing sent a lower-level delegation. Analysts cited by The Guardian argued that the absence reflects Beijing's confidence as an established power with little inclination to publicly justify its assertive posture, but that it also means China lacks a senior policymaker at the table when critical security issues are discussed [3]. Japan Today reported that the lower-level delegation underscored doubts about whether direct US-China military dialogue would advance at the summit [5].
An alternative framework to the US-China military competition narrative was presented by Vietnamese leader To Lam, who delivered the keynote address. To Lam outlined six security orientations emphasizing international law, ASEAN centrality, human security, and preventive diplomacy [21]. He called for adherence to UNCLOS 1982 on the South China Sea and for consensus-based management of differences [5][21]. Vietnamese state-aligned media framed the speech as a call to "củng cố lòng tin, đối thoại, hợp tác vì hòa bình và ổn định" (consolidate trust, dialogue, and cooperation for peace and stability) [21].
Hegseth also extended his deterrence messaging beyond the Indo-Pacific. He stated the United States is "more than capable" of resuming military operations against Iran, citing sufficient stockpiles and global munitions balancing [3][7].
Spanish-language coverage by Infobae reported a detail absent from most English-language accounts: Hegseth's stated preference for "less Shangri-La, more ships, more submarines" and his invocation of restoring the Monroe Doctrine [4]. RTVE quoted his reassurance to partners such as the Philippines that "America First does not mean America alone" [19]. Al Khaleej's Arabic-language report framed the speech as a call to "arm Asia" against China, while noting Hegseth's emphasis on keeping military communication channels with Beijing open and pursuing "deterrence, not war" [20].
The Shangri-La Dialogue continues through the weekend, with further bilateral meetings expected between defense officials from the United States and regional partners [9].