US Pentagon: China is our primary defense focus
According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Washington's attention will be directed towards the challenges presented by Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Washington is set to address increasing threats while ensuring the security of its own borders, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Pentagon chief articulated on Wednesday that the US aims to recalibrate its military focus towards countering China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking in Brussels at a conference with nations supporting Ukraine, Hegseth indicated a substantial shift in policy and called on European countries to take more responsibility for their own security and that of Ukraine.
“Stark strategic realities” necessitate that Washington prioritize securing its borders and addressing threats from Beijing, Hegseth remarked.
“The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland,” he emphasized, noting, “We must – and we are – focusing on security of our own borders.”
He identified China as the leading challenge, referring to it as a “peer competitor” with both the ability and intention to jeopardize US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
“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,” Hegseth concluded.
The rivalry between Washington and Beijing has escalated, with both countries increasing their military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific. The US has consistently sounded the alarm regarding what it perceives as a growing threat from China’s military expansion and regional objectives.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed this sentiment, stating that countering China will be a key component of US foreign policy during 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 critiqued past US policies that permitted key supply chains to move to China, warning that this has undermined American manufacturing. He advocates for stronger actions to limit Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
In response, Beijing has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that the US is the main destabilizing factor in the region. The Chinese Defense Ministry has denounced Washington’s attempts to enhance its military footprint in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that this is part of a broader strategy to “contain China” and amplify the “China threat” narrative.
Furthermore, China has criticized the US for reinforcing military relations with Taiwan, reiterating its stance that the self-governing island is an inalienable part of the country under the 'One-China' principle. Beijing has condemned Washington’s arms sales to Taipei, accusing the US of escalating tensions.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Pentagon chief articulated on Wednesday that the US aims to recalibrate its military focus towards countering China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking in Brussels at a conference with nations supporting Ukraine, Hegseth indicated a substantial shift in policy and called on European countries to take more responsibility for their own security and that of Ukraine.
“Stark strategic realities” necessitate that Washington prioritize securing its borders and addressing threats from Beijing, Hegseth remarked.
“The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland,” he emphasized, noting, “We must – and we are – focusing on security of our own borders.”
He identified China as the leading challenge, referring to it as a “peer competitor” with both the ability and intention to jeopardize US national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
“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,” Hegseth concluded.
The rivalry between Washington and Beijing has escalated, with both countries increasing their military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific. The US has consistently sounded the alarm regarding what it perceives as a growing threat from China’s military expansion and regional objectives.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has echoed this sentiment, stating that countering China will be a key component of US foreign policy during 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 critiqued past US policies that permitted key supply chains to move to China, warning that this has undermined American manufacturing. He advocates for stronger actions to limit Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
In response, Beijing has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that the US is the main destabilizing factor in the region. The Chinese Defense Ministry has denounced Washington’s attempts to enhance its military footprint in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that this is part of a broader strategy to “contain China” and amplify the “China threat” narrative.
Furthermore, China has criticized the US for reinforcing military relations with Taiwan, reiterating its stance that the self-governing island is an inalienable part of the country under the 'One-China' principle. Beijing has condemned Washington’s arms sales to Taipei, accusing the US of escalating tensions.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
