Pentagon Chief Adopts Softer Tone on China at Singapore Security Forum

At the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed U.S.-Asia relations in largely transactional terms, urging allies to increase defense spending as a condition for purchasing American arms — an approach mirroring the Trump administration's posture toward European partners. His speech made no direct reference to Taiwan, a notable omission given that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had recently warned of potential 'clashes' if Washington mishandled the Taiwan situation. Hegseth also told reporters he 'respected' China's ambitions, a comment critics characterized as problematic given Beijing's territorial claims over neighbors and international waterways. The softer tone reflects a broader White House shift: a recent U.S. strategy document reportedly removed Beijing as America's top threat. Meanwhile, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, speaking in Beijing, urged both governments to install 'guardrails' to prevent their intensifying strategic competition from spiraling into conflict, warning that deepening distrust now poses a greater risk than trade imbalances. On the alliance-building front, the Pentagon has expanded regional partnerships, including a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership with Indonesia signed in April, and deepened multilateral frameworks such as the Quad, AUKUS, and newer groupings involving Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. Asian military spending data shows Japan and the Philippines have sharply increased defense expenditures toward roughly 1.4% of GDP by 2024, reflecting growing regional concern about Chinese assertiveness.