US Defence Secretary Warns of China's Military Expansion

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged American allies in Asia to increase military spending to counter China’s growing power and prevent its dominance in the region. He warned of ‘reasonable concerns’ over China’s rapid military expansion. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth stated that a stronger and more autonomous alliance network is crucial to deter aggression and maintain the regional balance of power. ‘There are ’reasonable concerns’ about China’s historic military buildup and expansion of its military activities in this region and beyond,’ he said at the premier Asian forum for defence, military, and diplomatic leaders, as reported by AFP on Saturday, 30 May 2026. ‘Any Pacific dominated by a single hegemon would disrupt regional power balances,’ Hegseth said. ‘No country, including China, can impose hegemony and challenge the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies,’ he added. The Pentagon chief said the US expects its Asian allies and partners to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, alongside a $1.5 trillion military investment pledge. Hegseth stressed that allies seek stability, not escalation. ‘What they want, and what the US provides, is disciplined strength, firm resolve, and leadership confident enough to speak and act softly while carrying a big stick,’ said the US defence secretary. Hegseth also adopted a measured tone regarding US-China relations, stating they are ‘better than in recent years’ with more frequent military-to-military engagement helping to manage tensions. ‘We meet more often with our Chinese counterparts by keeping military-to-military communication channels open,’ he concluded.