Hegseth Reassures Pacific Allies While Softening China Rhetoric

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used an appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore to reassure Pacific allies of Washington’s commitment to the region while moderating earlier rhetoric about China.

Hegseth said the United States’ priority was to achieve a “lasting and favorable balance of power in the Pacific.” He also reiterated the importance of a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” with China.

The tone marked a shift from his previous, more sharply critical language about Beijing. The change followed President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Even as he softened the rhetoric, Hegseth continued to express alarm over China’s historic military buildup. His remarks therefore combined reassurance to US partners with an effort to frame competition with China in terms of regional balance and strategic stability.

The speech placed Washington’s Indo-Pacific posture in a delicate position: seeking to maintain allied confidence, acknowledge concerns over China’s military expansion and avoid language that could undercut a more constructive relationship with Beijing.