Pentagon identifies China as primary defense focus for the US
Washington will concentrate on the challenges presented by Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Washington should confront rising threats while securing its own borders, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The US aims to realign its military focus towards addressing China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific while also prioritizing homeland defense, Pentagon head Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday.
At a defense conference in Brussels attended by NATO and non-NATO nations supporting Ukraine, the newly appointed US Secretary of Defense indicated a pivotal shift in policy from Washington, urging European partners to take greater responsibility for their own security.
Hegseth remarked that “stark strategic realities” necessitate a concentration on securing US borders and mitigating threats from Beijing.
He stated, “The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland,” emphasizing, “We must – and we are – focusing on security of our own borders.”
He characterized China as the primary adversary, labeling it a “peer competitor” equipped and inclined to jeopardize US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth concluded, “The US is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognizing the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing tradeoffs to ensure deterrence does not fail.”
The tension between Washington and Beijing has escalated, as both countries increase their military and economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. The US has consistently highlighted what it perceives as a growing threat from China’s military expansion and ambitions in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reinforced this view, stating that countering China will be essential to US foreign policy in President Donald Trump’s second term. He accused the Chinese Communist Party of “lying, cheating, hacking, and stealing its way to global superpower status at our expense.”
Rubio has also criticized past US policies that led to a shift in critical supply chains to China, warning that American manufacturing has become exposed to vulnerabilities. He advocates for more robust actions to limit Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
In response, Beijing has firmly dismissed these allegations, claiming that the US represents the main destabilizing force in the region. The Chinese Defense Ministry has denounced Washington’s initiatives to enhance its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that it is part of a broader strategy to “contain China” and amplify the “China threat” narrative.
Moreover, China has condemned the US for strengthening military relations with Taiwan, reiterating that it views the self-governing island as an indispensable part of the country under the 'One-China' principle. Beijing has criticized Washington’s arms sales to Taipei, accusing it of escalating tensions.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
The US aims to realign its military focus towards addressing China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific while also prioritizing homeland defense, Pentagon head Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday.
At a defense conference in Brussels attended by NATO and non-NATO nations supporting Ukraine, the newly appointed US Secretary of Defense indicated a pivotal shift in policy from Washington, urging European partners to take greater responsibility for their own security.
Hegseth remarked that “stark strategic realities” necessitate a concentration on securing US borders and mitigating threats from Beijing.
He stated, “The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland,” emphasizing, “We must – and we are – focusing on security of our own borders.”
He characterized China as the primary adversary, labeling it a “peer competitor” equipped and inclined to jeopardize US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth concluded, “The US is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognizing the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing tradeoffs to ensure deterrence does not fail.”
The tension between Washington and Beijing has escalated, as both countries increase their military and economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. The US has consistently highlighted what it perceives as a growing threat from China’s military expansion and ambitions in the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reinforced this view, stating that countering China will be essential to US foreign policy in President Donald Trump’s second term. He accused the Chinese Communist Party of “lying, cheating, hacking, and stealing its way to global superpower status at our expense.”
Rubio has also criticized past US policies that led to a shift in critical supply chains to China, warning that American manufacturing has become exposed to vulnerabilities. He advocates for more robust actions to limit Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
In response, Beijing has firmly dismissed these allegations, claiming that the US represents the main destabilizing force in the region. The Chinese Defense Ministry has denounced Washington’s initiatives to enhance its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that it is part of a broader strategy to “contain China” and amplify the “China threat” narrative.
Moreover, China has condemned the US for strengthening military relations with Taiwan, reiterating that it views the self-governing island as an indispensable part of the country under the 'One-China' principle. Beijing has criticized Washington’s arms sales to Taipei, accusing it of escalating tensions.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
