Pentagon chief says US seeks 'stable equilibrium' with China in Asia
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (C), Thailand's Defense Minister Adul Boonthamcharoen (L), and Singapore's Minister of Defense Chan Chun Sing attend a ministerial roundtable during the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on May 30, 2026. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth struck a measured tone towards China at a major defense forum on May 30, noting "rightful alarm" over Beijing's military build-up but saying the United States sought a "stable equilibrium" in Asia.
Hegseth's headline speech at Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defense officials and experts from about 45 countries, contrasted with his strongly confrontational remarks on China at last year's gathering.
Unlike Beijing, which has sent a panel of military experts and scholars instead of defense Minister Dong Jun for the second year running, Hegseth is leading a bumper U.S. delegation to the event that provides chances for both open debate and behind-closed-doors diplomacy.
