Overview
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told delegates that there is a “legitimate alarm” over China’s historic military buildup and urged partners to boost spending and buy U.S. equipment, citing a target near 3.5% of GDP and up to $1.5 trillion in industry sales.
- Hegseth balanced his sales pitch by saying the United States does not seek confrontation and that military‑to‑military lines of communication with China have improved.
- China’s delegation led by Meng Xiangqing rebutted Washington’s framing on May 31 by warning against hegemonism, highlighting risks to arms control and nuclear stability, and calling for multilateral solutions to preserve the post‑war international order.
- Several regional governments are accelerating security cooperation — including closer Korea–Japan ties and new Philippines–Japan agreements — as concerns grow about Washington’s ability to sustain commitments after recent U.S. force redeployments and the war in Iran.
- The Shangri‑La Dialogue brought more than 550 defence officials and experts together and underlined a shifting balance in Asia where states must weigh large economic ties with Beijing against rising pressure to fund their own security and buy Western arms.