Pentagon chief says US seeks 'stable equilibrium' with China in Asia

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Washington DC: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth struck a distinctly measured tone toward Beijing at a major defence forum on Saturday, declaring that the United States seeks a ‘stable equilibrium’ in Asia. 

Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth explicitly acknowledged the ‘rightful alarm’ surrounding China's historic and expansive military build-up. However, he emphasised that Washington does not actively desire needless confrontation in the region.

Instead, the United States is actively advocating for a durable balance of power that protects the security and economic prosperity of both Americans and regional partners. 

This framework is specifically designed to prevent any single nation, including China, from establishing absolute hegemony or threatening regional stability.

Hegseth’s diplomatic rhetoric marked a sharp departure from his highly aggressive approach at last year's conference. Analysts noted that his speech mirrored a more positive atmosphere following recent superpower trade discussions.

 Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun chose to skip the high-profile summit for the second year running, opting to send a lower-level panel of military scholars to represent Beijing.