War Secretary Pete Hegseth moderated his language regarding China during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, avoiding terms such as "communist" and refraining from discussing Taiwan. This speech occurred two weeks after his visit to Beijing with President Donald Trump.
Hegseth emphasized that no single power should dominate the Indo-Pacific region, a comment that could apply to both China and the United States. He indicated that the U.S. is open to cooperation with China while maintaining a strong stance.
"We respect their ambitions," Hegseth stated, acknowledging China's military buildup. He reiterated that U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, which supports military assistance to the self-governing island without recognizing its sovereignty.
The Pentagon has recently paused a $14 billion arms deal with Taiwan, citing demands due to military operations in Iran, although Hegseth denied any connection between the two issues. He noted that decisions regarding future arms sales to Taiwan rest solely with President Trump.
Additionally, Trump was scheduled to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, but that conversation has been postponed amid opposition from Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet with Trump at the White House later this year, although he has not yet confirmed his attendance.