Hegseth Urges Asian Nations to Boost Military Spending
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- Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies at the Shangri‑La Dialogue to increase military spending to counter China's historic military buildup.
- Pete Hegseth said U.S.-China relations are better than in many years but warned of a rightful alarm over China's regional military activities.
- Pete Hegseth downplayed Taiwan concerns when asked, stating the U.S. has sufficient weapons stockpiles and that future arms sales to Taiwan rest solely with President Trump, with no change in status.
- Pete Hegseth echoed President Trump's stance on Iran, saying the U.S. will not make a deal unless it prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and is ready to resume strikes if no deal is reached.
- To Lam warned that unchecked competition in the region poses a major risk for smaller Southeast Asian nations.
Why it matters: Asian defense budgets may rise, bolstering U.S. strategic influence, while China faces heightened pressure; Taiwan's security calculus remains uncertain as U.S. arms sales stay in limbo.
