Defense Secretary Avoids Taiwan, China Criticism in Singapore Speech
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue that omitted prior language on China and Taiwan. The address followed a state visit to Beijing and came as a major Taiwan arms package remains paused.
Washington ExaminerDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday without referencing Taiwan or repeating earlier criticisms of China. He did not use the word “communist” and made no mention of China’s military buildup in the Indo-Pacific.
Instead he said no “hegemon” should dominate the region, leaving unclear whether the remark applied to China or the United States. The speech came more than two weeks after Hegseth accompanied President Donald Trump on an official visit to Beijing.
U.S. policy supports arms sales to Taiwan but does not recognize its sovereignty. The Pentagon recently paused a $14 billion arms package to the island. Hegseth told reporters the pause was unrelated to Senate confirmation proceedings for Hung Cao. “Hung Cao is fantastic, but I would not couple the two in any way at all,” he said.
“Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him and as a nature of that relationship,” Hegseth added.
Trump had been scheduled to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, but CBS News reported the call is now on hold. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet President Trump at the White House in late September for their second private meeting this year.
>"We respect their ambitions. " — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, May 30, 2026 (S.
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- Washington Examiner reported: Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. position on Taiwan has not changed.
- news.usni.org reported: Pete Hegseth said U.S.-China relations are better than they have been.
- Washington Examiner reported: The Pentagon recently paused a $14 billion arms deal to Taiwan.
- Washington Examiner reported: Pete Hegseth did not mention Taiwan in his prepared remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
- Washington Examiner reported: Pete Hegseth stated that any decision about future Taiwan arms sales rests with President Trump.
- Washington Examiner reported: Pete Hegseth said the U.S. respects China's ambitions while preparing for any possible contingency regarding its military buildup.
- Washington Examiner reported: Pete Hegseth denied that the pause in Taiwan arms sales was connected to U.S. munitions demands from the war in Iran.
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