US Seeks Pacific Balance, Warns Against Hegemony

The United States aims for a stable balance of power in the Pacific, asserting that no single nation, including China, should dominate the region. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered this message at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.

"What we are striving for is a stable balance that serves Americans and our allies – a favorable but lasting balance of power in which no state, not even China, can gain hegemony and threaten the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies," Hegseth declared. He noted "justified concern" across the Pacific regarding China's military expansion and activities.

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What we are striving for is a stable balance that serves Americans and our allies – a favorable but lasting balance of power in which no state, not even China, can gain hegemony and threaten the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies.

Hegseth urged Asian allies to bolster their military spending to counter China's rising power and prevent its dominance, stressing that allies need stability, not escalation. Despite these concerns, he indicated that relations with Beijing have improved, with increased communication between the two countries' armed forces.

Separately, Hegseth addressed the conflict with Iran, stating that the U.S. is prepared to resume attacks. "Our ability to resume operations if necessary lies in the fact that we are more than ready and our supplies are more than sufficient," he asserted, highlighting the adequacy of U.S. military stockpiles.

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Our ability to resume operations if necessary lies in the fact that we are more than ready and our supplies are more than sufficient.