DID Press: US War Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to travel to Asia this week to bolster Washington’s military ties with regional allies amid rising tensions with China.
According to a Pentagon statement, Hegseth’s itinerary includes stops in Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea. The visit is part of the Trump administration’s “peace through strength” strategy, emphasizing a balance of power across the Indo-Pacific region.
Pentagon said discussions will focus on increasing allies’ contributions to military costs and strengthening deterrence against China, which US officials claim is “preparing to use force against Taiwan by 2027.”
Hegseth previously warned at a Singapore security forum that China is “preparing to shift the balance of power through military means,” describing Beijing’s threat as “real and potentially imminent.”
Planned Stops:
Hawaii: Meeting with US Indo-Pacific Command leaders to discuss the readiness of American forces.
Tokyo: Talks with Japanese officials, including new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Kuala Lumpur: Participation in an ASEAN War Ministers’ meeting to enhance regional security cooperation.
Hanoi: Discussions on expanding military and intelligence cooperation with Vietnam amid South China Sea disputes over the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
Seoul: Attendance at the 57th US–South Korea Security Consultative Meeting, praising Seoul’s commitment to increasing its military contributions. Currently, around 28,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea.
Pentagon stressed that Hegseth’s trip will reiterate Washington’s commitment to “peace through strength” and maintaining regional balance against China.