What Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue is about US foreign policy Political Affairs

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discusses key foreign policy issues in Washington at a defense conference in Singapore.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth commented on America the main enemyChina, as well as Iran, NATO and Taiwan – the main point of contention between Washington and Beijing.

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The US and Israel launched their war in Iran at the end of February, shaking the international markets, which caused a crisis of energy and caused a shortage of US military equipment, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, which cost $ 12m each.

In a report published on Wednesday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said it will take two years – and in some cases more than three – to restore the four most important weapons used during the war.

Here are Hegseth’s most important comments.

‘Chinese military history’

Beijing is seen as Washington’s biggest political problem, and Mr Hegseth has been alarmed by China’s growing military presence in the Asia Pacific.

“There is a fair amount of caution about the size of China’s military and the expansion of its military operations in the region and beyond,” Hegseth said.

Washington’s latest National Defense Strategy describes China as the second most powerful country in the world after the US.

Hegseth used his speech to call on US allies in the region to increase defense spending to counter China’s rise.

The defense secretary, who said relations with Beijing are “better” than they have been in years, warned that unless action is taken, China will become a regional hegemon.

“A Pacific controlled by any hegemon can unleash regional power,” Hegseth said.

“No government, including China, can consolidate its power and maintain the security or prosperity of our country and its allies.”

‘There is no change in our status’

Taiwan has been improving its defense capabilities in response to concerns about a possible Chinese attack. Taiwan, which has never declared independence from China, has operated as a separate country since 1949, although Beijing considers the island part of its territory.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump traveled to China for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, who sees Taiwan as a key issue in China-US relations. Xi told Trump that “conflicts and even conflicts” between the two countries could happen if the situation in Taiwan does not go well.

Since then, Trump has warned Taipei not to declare independence from China, prompting the island to issue a statement saying it is “independent and sovereign” but plans to maintain the status quo.

After the meeting, Mr Trump said he did not know if he would approve a $14bn arms sale to Taiwan. On Saturday, Hegseth said that Washington’s commitment to Taiwan remains intact, but that Trump can decide whether the arms deal ends.

“This election will depend on the president and the state of the relationship. It has not changed the way we are,” Hegseth said.

‘We need friends’

Trump has been pushing allies to increase their military spending and become less dependent on US firepower under his America First doctrine.

Trump recently upset his European allies when he announced that he would send more 5,000 soldiers in Poland, although he recently promised to reduce the number of American troops on the continent.

It is not yet known whether the deployment to Poland also includes troops that the Pentagon has said will no longer be stationed in Germany.

“The time for the United States to bail out rich countries is over,” Hegseth said.

“We need teammates, not defenders. We don’t have a strong bond unless everyone has skin in the game. There’s no free-loading.”

Trump wants a ‘stronger alliance’

Hegseth also discussed Iran – an issue of great importance to the world and the US. Tehran and Washington believe they are about to sign a memorandum to bring the war to a fixed end.

Hegseth, who played a key role in the US-Israel war against Iran as defense secretary, warned that the US would resume attacks on Iran if there was no satisfactory deal.

His comments come as Washington wants to reassure its allies that the Strait of Hormuz – which Iran closed at the beginning of the war to prevent attacks on the US and Israel – will soon be reopened, helping to lower energy prices. About 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas flows through the most important pre-war corridor.