U.S. Defense Secretary Says Chinese Dominance in Indo-Pacific Will Not Be Accepted

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared that the United States will not accept Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific region, delivering a firm message during the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum in Singapore.

Addressing regional defense leaders and policymakers, Hegseth warned that no country, including China, should be allowed to establish unilateral dominance or undermine the security of the United States and its allies.

“No nation, including China, will be permitted to achieve hegemony or threaten the security of our nation and our partners,” Hegseth said.

Despite the strong warning, the U.S. defense chief also emphasized that relations between Washington and Beijing are currently in a comparatively positive phase under President Donald Trump’s administration.

“Under President Trump, U.S.-China relations are in one of the strongest positions they have been in for many years,” Hegseth said.

He noted that military-to-military communication channels between the two countries remain open and active.

“We are keeping lines of communication open with our Chinese counterparts and are meeting more frequently than before at the military level,” he added.

At the same time, Hegseth stressed that Washington expects Beijing to respect the long-standing U.S. presence and role in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We want China to respect our enduring presence in this region,” he said.

The defense secretary argued that dominance by any single power would upset the strategic balance of the region and threaten stability. He also acknowledged that recent geopolitical developments, including the conflict involving Iran, had drawn significant attention from Washington in recent months.

Nevertheless, Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Despite challenges elsewhere, the United States remains fully committed to preserving a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

The remarks come amid continuing strategic competition between the United States and China over security, trade, technology, and influence across the Asia-Pacific region.