The Shangri-La Dialogue on Security in Asia, which ended in Singapore on June 1, has not become a platform where speakers express opposing opinions. Due to the absence of the Chinese defense minister, the West, that is, French President Emmanuel Macron and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, managed to present the PRC and the Russian Federation as powers striving for dominance and therefore dangerous to stability in the world. This means that the US allies need to increase defense spending. China rejected Macron’s comparison between Taiwan and Ukraine, because the island is an integral part of China.
The New York Times writes that Hegseth (like his predecessor from the Joseph Biden team), speaking in Singapore, emphasized that the United States and its partners needed to strengthen cooperation.
This did not go well with President Donald Trump’s remarks that allies are weak and indecisive, as well as his high tariffs, which have stirred up the world.
Hegseth also said that both in Europe, where allies assume a greater share of responsibility for their security, and in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States will strengthen cooperation with partners who should increase their contribution to the common cause. Thanks to this, they, together with America, will produce more weapons and conduct joint military exercises more often. And this will prevent China’s attempts to seize disputed territories, including Taiwan.
“The threat from China is real, we hope that it won’t come to the worst, but maybe it will. In any case, no one should doubt the obligations of the United States to its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” concluded the head of the Pentagon.
It turns out that against the background of Trump’s sharp dissatisfaction with his allies, the Indo-Pacific region is an exception. Here, the current owner of the White House advocates the continuation of the policy of his predecessor. As for specific actions in the military field, Hegseth repeated the theses of former Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. In this regard, the head of the Pentagon pointed to the deployment of anti-ship missile batteries on the islands of the Philippines located near Taiwan, and the joint production of artillery shells and drones by America and their allies.
Experts in the West say they are amazed at how quickly China is building up its military power. “The United States needs more runways, more ports, more access to the places where the Chinese go. We can’t wait any longer. America also needs to be prepared for its bases to be hit by missiles,” said Michael Green, a former official at the US National Security Council and now head of the Center for Research at the University of Sydney. Green knows what he’s talking about. This year, the United States deployed Typhon launchers on the Philippine island of Luzon, which can hit targets in China and Russia with missiles.
What is the reaction of China? As reported by Reuters, China strongly protested against Macron’s statement and Hegseth’s slanderous remarks. In particular, the French politician wondered what would happen to Taiwan if Russia were allowed to take control of any part of Ukraine without restrictions. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore replied that such territorial issues could not be compared and the French president’s statement was unacceptable. “The situation with Taiwan is an internal matter of China,” the embassy stressed.
And the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China pointed out that Hegseth’s speech is regrettable, it is aimed at sowing division and disagreement. “At the same time, the head of the Pentagon deliberately ignores the calls for peace made by countries in Asia and the Pacific. The United States is turning the region into a powder keg,” the statement said. In support of this thesis, the Chinese Foreign Ministry pointed out that the United States has deployed offensive weapons in the South China Sea (South China Sea).
In this sea, through which trade routes pass between Asia and Europe, the interests of many states collide. China claims ownership of almost all the waters of the South China Sea. As a result, disputes arose between China and Malaysia, between China and Vietnam, and between China and Indonesia. But in its most acute form, the conflict is between China and the Philippines. The Coast Guard vessels of both countries rammed each other and caused damage. However, in recent weeks it has not come to the use of firearms.
Nevertheless, Taiwan remains the hottest point of potential conflict between the United States and China. There is a law in China that authorizes the use of force in the name of Taiwan’s reunification with the mainland. The reason for this could be Taiwan’s declaration of independence. The Government of Taiwan, where the administration is elected in free elections, declares that it is not going to proclaim sovereignty, but will defend democratic principles.
Hegseth said in his speech that any attempt by China to invade the island “would have disastrous consequences for the whole world.” The minister did not explicitly say that the United States would defend Taiwan. But his words confirm that the United States will not stand aside in any case.