US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered on Saturday a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, during which he outlined US foreign policy goals for Asia.
Hegseth told the defense summit that the United States seeks a "stable equilibrium" in Asia. He added that no country — including China — should be able to establish unquestioned dominance over the region.
US seeks 'favorable balance of power'
"What we seek... is a genuinely stable equilibrium that works for Americans as well as our allies — a favorable but durable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question," the Pentagon chief said.He added that there is "rightful alarm" across the Pacific region over China's military build-up, but stressed that Washington did not seek "needless confrontation in the region".
"When we look across the region today, there is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military build-up and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond," Hegseth said.
