Strong Allies Needed to Keep China in Check

The U. S. defence chief said that Asia must spend more on its own armies to stop China from becoming too powerful in the region. He spoke at a big meeting of military leaders in Singapore, where he urged countries like Japan, South Korea and the Philippines to raise their defence budgets to about 3. 5 % of GDP, matching a $1. 5 trillion U. S. investment in its own forces. Hegseth warned that if one country dominates the Pacific, the balance of power will collapse and no nation can force others to accept its rule. He said allies want peace, not fights, and that the U. S. will provide disciplined strength while keeping tensions low. He added that relations with China are better now than in the past, thanks to more regular military talks.China’s defence minister has not attended the dialogue this year, and earlier the U. S. chief was criticised for harsh words about China’s military build‑up. Despite that, Hegseth praised the contributions of many Asian partners and called for Japan to do its part in strengthening the U. S. ‑Japan alliance. On a separate note, he said the United States could resume air strikes on Iran if diplomatic talks fail, while also arguing that the Middle East crisis should not distract from Asia‑Pacific security. He dismissed worries about arms sales to Taiwan, noting that any decision would rest with the U. S. president and that Washington’s stance toward China remains unchanged.