US urges Asia allies to take lead against China at Shangri-La Dialogue
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the era of US subsidizing wealthy nations' defense is over, urging allies to boost spending to 3.5% of GDP. The message left regional partners grappling with a future of reduced American protection against China's military rise. Japan's defense chief publicly sought a firmer US commitment, while many allies avoided direct confrontation with Beijing.
SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the era of U.S. subsidizing wealthy allies' defense is over, pressing regional partners to boost spending to 3.5% of GDP as the Trump administration shifts focus to the Western Hemisphere.
"The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over," Hegseth said in his keynote address, urging allies to get "some skin in the game." He was largely silent on Beijing, only validating the region's "rightful alarm" with China. The message left many allies grappling with a future of reduced American protection against China's military rise.
Japan's Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi publicly urged Hegseth to signal a more solid U.S. commitment to the region after his remarks. Koizumi also said he wanted to sit down with his Chinese counterpart and that Tokyo's historic defense spending boost was not aimed at anyone in particular. A Chinese military officer asked Koizumi to issue an apology for victims of World War II.
Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ducked through a working kitchen to avoid a throng of Chinese reporters. Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said: "The world has enough trouble. If [the region] can stay out of trouble, we will distinguish ourselves."
Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), a Trump ally, defended the administration's approach, saying: "We're going to be discreet about those things." Hegseth's defenders argued the administration is still privately protesting Chinese island building, trying to kick-start arms control talks, and standing up for Taiwan.
"The allies, especially Australia and Japan, appear to be trying their best to work together and fill in the gaps in security left by U.S. inattention and show they are shouldering their responsibilities," said Ian Chong, a National University of Singapore professor. "Others are talking a big game over the rule of law and institutions but are neither holding the U.S. to account nor demanding more from [China]."
Italian Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, NATO's most senior European military official, said the world was "fragmenting" during a panel discussion. A regional official said Australia's push for an AUKUS undersea drone announcement "smacked of anxiety."
Beijing did not send its defense minister to the gathering for the second straight year. A former regional official said: "Everyone is currently recognizing there are no guarantees of U.S. action on Taiwan under Trump." The mood was "thankful that the continuing PLA purges make clear Xi does not yet have confidence in the PLA's ability to deliver."
Chinese academics and lower-level military officers who did attend did not return the courtesy of calls for direct talks. One Chinese academic confronted the top U.S. four-star general in South Korea over recent comments that the American ally was a "dagger" in Asia aimed at China. A former U.S. official described China's approach as "fuck you diplomacy."