Sat May 31 11:20:00 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:**
**Summary:**
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, urged Asian nations to increase military spending to deter China, which he believes is preparing to take Taiwan. He outlined new joint projects in the Indo-Pacific, including expanded military repair capabilities in Australia. Hegseth emphasized the U.S. commitment to the region, while criticizing China’s absence from the conference and addressing concerns about the reliability of U.S. alliances. He said the US respected China, but would not be pushed out of the region. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth criticized Hegseth’s “patronizing” language, emphasizing bipartisan support for the Indo-Pacific and the importance of upholding international norms.
**News Article:**
**US Urges Asian Nations to Boost Military Spending, Cites Imminent China Threat**
**Singapore -** U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Asian countries to significantly increase their military spending, warning that China is actively preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. He spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Saturday.
“It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific … There’s no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” Hegseth said. He outlined a range of new joint projects with regional allies, including expanding access to ship and plane repair, particularly in Australia, in order to bolster deterrence capabilities. He said that Trump’s administration had pushed European countries to boost their defensive spending, taking on a greater “burden” of responding to conflicts in their region, and it was time for Asian nations to do the same.
The U.S. official also took a swipe at China’s absence from the conference, noting that the U.S. was present while “someone else isn’t”. He reiterated the U.S. did not seek conflict with China, and that President Trump had an “immense respect for China and their civilisation”.
However, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, also speaking in Singapore, criticized Hegseth’s tone. Speaking to reporters, Duckworth welcomed the US remaining in the Indo-Pacific region but criticised his words as “patronising of our friends in the Indo-Pacific in particular”.
Duckworth emphasized the growing bipartisan support for engagement in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring that the U.S. is not forcing nations to choose between Washington and Beijing, but rather seeking cooperation in upholding international norms.
Hegseth announced the U.S. would conduct its “first-ever live-fire test of its mid-range capability system in Australia” in coming months.
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