The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, made his first appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue, delivering unprecedented strong remarks against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This move was seen as showcasing the firm commitment of the US to the region, according to Yu Maochun, Director of the China Center at the Hudson Institute, a think tank. Experts believe that the attendance of lower-level CCP representatives reflects internal military instability and strategic retreat, while the presence of the new and energetic Defense Secretary Hegseth signals a new phase in the Indo-Pacific strategy.
Hegseth emphasized in his public address that any attempt by Communist China to forcibly take over Taiwan would have catastrophic consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world at large. He warned that the threat posed by China (CCP) is real and could be imminent.
Yu Maochun, in an interview with the BBC, stated that Hegseth’s remarks not only served as a direct warning to the CCP but also conveyed a rock-solid strategic commitment to the entire Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific region. He pointed out that the strategic focus of this speech is to dispel any ambiguity surrounding the US policy towards Taiwan.
“We will not initiate military action against China, but if the CCP resorts to military force against Taiwan, they will undoubtedly cross the red line that the US has been steadfastly guarding for decades,” emphasized Yu Maochun. He reiterated that the US position has been clear since the 1950s and is now being reaffirmed by the Defense Secretary at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
“We have the legal basis of the Taiwan Relations Act, and our entire military system is prepared for the Taiwan scenario,” he stated, making it clear that the Defense Secretary now explicitly informs the world that “if China (CCP) attacks Taiwan, the entire region will face catastrophic consequences, and the US will definitely intervene.”
Yu Maochun added, stating that “America first” does not equate to “American isolationism.” He elaborated, saying, “The true meaning of America first is for the US to strengthen its own power.”
Hegseth mentioned in his speech that the US will enhance its military capabilities, boost soldier morale, technological prowess, and military infrastructure to counter the threats posed by China.
Yú Zongji, former Dean of the School of Political Warfare at Taiwan’s National Defense University, told Epoch Times that Hegseth’s description of the CCP threat as “imminent” is based on the recent massive displays of Chinese naval power. He pointed out that China has deployed around 70 warships in Taiwan’s eastern and western Pacific regions, including two aircraft carrier battle groups and various types of warships, forming a comprehensive naval blockade system with the ability to conduct anti-access and area denial operations.
According to Reuters, since early May, the CCP has deployed larger-than-usual fleets in Taiwan, southern islands of Japan, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the entire first island chain. On May 21 and 27, China deployed 60 to 70 vessels, including two aircraft carrier battle groups – the Shandong in the South China Sea and the Liaoning in the southeast of Taiwan. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed this information on May 28.
Yú Zongji affirmed, “This is no longer just an exercise but a substantial readiness deployment for ‘transformational war.’ The CCP is attempting to simulate preventing external forces like the US, Japan, and the Philippines from intervening in a Taiwan Strait conflict.”
He also stated that the US Indo-Pacific Command and intelligence units have repeatedly issued warnings on this matter. Hegseth’s speech is a direct response to the CCP’s current military posture and reinforces the US stance during the tenure of President Trump that does not tolerate the CCP’s use of force to unify Taiwan.
In contrast to the high-profile US attendance, the CCP did not send Defense Minister Dong Jun but instead dispatched Deputy Dean Major General Hu Gangfeng of the National Defense University of the PLA – setting the lowest level of representation by Chinese officials in the history of the Shangri-La Dialogue. Yú Zongji believes this is a deliberate strategy adopted by the CCP to avoid high-level confrontation with the US on the international stage and to conceal internal military and political instabilities.
He explained that former Defense Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Feng were both sidelined due to investigations, and the current Defense Minister Dong Jun himself is rumored to be under internal investigation. If he had attended the Shangri-La Dialogue hastily, he could have become a focal point of public scrutiny or an international laughingstock. Hence, the CCP has chosen a “cool treatment” strategy to minimize diplomatic risks.
Su Ziyun, Director of the Strategic and Resource Institute at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense Security Studies, stated in an interview with Epoch Times that Hegseth’s recent statement officially clarifies that the US will not only deter CCP’s invasion of Taiwan but also will decisively engage in combat if deterrence fails. He believes, “This is the clearest military commitment to Taiwan’s security since the Trump 2.0 administration took office.”
However, he emphasized that Taiwan cannot solely rely on external defense assistance, and self-strengthening defense capabilities remain fundamental. He stated, “Increasing Taiwan’s defense budget is a necessary direction, and the key lies in how to invest more efficiently and enhance asymmetric warfare capabilities.”
Su Ziyun also mentioned that Hegseth’s use of the term “Communist China” in his speech clearly underscores that the US policy towards China is directed at the CCP regime rather than the Chinese people or culture, which helps the international community understand the US position.
Taiwan, as a democratic island that produces over 90% of high-end semiconductors globally, holds significant economic status, and its commitment to democratic freedoms and Western values make it the frontline in the CCP’s authoritarian challenge. The majority of Taiwanese people are unwilling to accept CCP rule, while the Chinese authorities still regard “reunifying Taiwan” as a core task.
The Financial Times quoted Michael Schiffer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, stating that China’s Taiwan policy goes beyond military intimidation to include “diplomatic isolation, economic control, cultural warfare, and information infiltration.”
Schiffer mentioned that the US’s decades-long practice of “strategic ambiguity” was effective post-Cold War, but facing the current threat and risk of misjudgment in the CCP’s gray zone, maintaining stability has become challenging. To uphold peace in the Taiwan Strait, the US must shift towards “strategic clarity” and deploy comprehensive responses.
Hegseth’s strong remarks immediately sparked protests from the CCP. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry issued statements criticizing the US for “provoking confrontation” and “interfering in internal affairs,” with the Global Times claiming that China is prepared to “fight to the end” with external enemies.
However, experts widely believe that such rhetoric serves internal nationalist mobilization and image stabilization. The strategic competition between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region has entered a new phase. Looking at the US policy direction, the era of “strategic clarity” is replacing the decades-old “strategic ambiguity.”
Chen Wenjia, Director of the Center for International and Regional Studies at Taiwan’s Kai Nan University, told Epoch Times that Hegseth’s remarks aimed at conducting “strategic communication and deterrence” against the CCP, demonstrating that the US and its allies will not tolerate any attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force. For Indo-Pacific allies, he sent a collective security signal, requiring “Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asian democratic countries to increase defense budgets, strengthen joint military exercises, and cooperation” to counter the CCP’s blockade and anti-access strategies.