Shangri-La: Hegseth Warns China It Won't Replace US in Indo-Pacific
The Shangri-La Dialogue revealed a delicate balancing act in US policy toward China following last month’s Trump–Xi summit. While US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke of building a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” with Beijing, he also warned against Chinese hegemony and reaffirmed America’s commitment to maintaining a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. Yet notable omissions — including Taiwan, the South China Sea and North Korea — left some observers questioning how Washington’s strategy is evolving. At the same time, Chinese delegates repeatedly challenged US officials over military posture and alliance networks. In this episode, we examine the key messages from Shangri-La, the debate over deterrence along the First Island Chain and what the dialogue reveals about the future of US-China competition. *Recorded at the Shangri La Hotel in Singapore Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Consultant: Max Yu Our guests: Christopher Johnstone - The Asia Group Partner and Co-Chair of Defense and National Security Practice Patrick Cronin - Hudson Institute Asia-Pacific Security Chair
