China's military buildup causes 'justified alarm' in Pacific, U.S. warns

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has voiced concerns over China's military expansion, stating there is "justified alarm" throughout the Pacific region. He highlighted the "historic increase in China's military power and the expansion of its activities" as a cause for concern among nations in the area.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security summit in Singapore, Hegseth clarified the United States' objectives. "We do not seek an unnecessary confrontation in the region," he stated. Instead, the U.S. aims to foster a "truly stable balance" that benefits both American interests and those of its allies.

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When we observe the region today, there is justified alarm regarding the historic increase in China's military power and the expansion of its activities.

Hegseth further elaborated that this desired balance of power should be "favorable but lasting." The goal, he explained, is to create an environment where no single state, including China, can impose its hegemony and jeopardize regional security or prosperity. The remarks underscore ongoing tensions and strategic maneuvering in the Indo-Pacific.

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What we seek (...) is a truly stable balance that benefits both Americans and our allies: a favorable but lasting balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and jeopardize security or prosperity.