Simi valley: United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Saturday that a key priority for the U.S. military is to deter China “through strength, not through confrontation.” He reiterated that Washington has no plans to alter the Taiwan Strait status quo.

According to Focus Taiwan, Hegseth made these remarks at the annual Reagan Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, where he outlined the Department of War’s priorities under President Donald Trump. He emphasized defending the U.S. homeland, deterring China through strength, sharing defense burdens with allies and partners, and enhancing the U.S. defense industrial base.

Hegseth described U.S.-China relations under Trump as “better and stronger,” highlighting the administration’s pursuit of stable, peaceful, fair trade, and respectful relations with China. He noted that U.S. efforts are based on “flexible realism,” aiming for a balance of power rather than domination.

Reiterating his previous statements from the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth assured that the U.S. does not intend to “strangle China’s growth” or change the Taiwan status quo. He emphasized that U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific are significant but reasonable, aimed at preventing allies from being vulnerable to military aggression.

Hegseth also reiterated Trump’s position on allies contributing more to their own defense, stating, “Our allies are not children. We can and should and must expect them to do their part.” This aligns with the Trump administration’s call for increased defense spending by global partners, including Taiwan. In response, President Lai Ching-te announced a plan to allocate US$40 billion for a special defense budget and increase Taiwan’s defense spending to at least 3 percent of GDP by 2026 and 5 percent by 2030.