Pete Hegseth signalled ‘significant shift’ in US China policy, says ex-Pentagon official
Chad Sbragia tells Xiangshan forum the US defence chief used ‘unprecedented’ language about not seeking conflict
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth “made clear that the United States does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or strangulation of the PRC [People’s Republic of China]” in his first direct talks with Dong.
“I know that runs counter to much of the Chinese assessment right now about where the United States … is at in terms of its view of China.
“But that is a remarkable statement and it seems to me something the Chinese side must pick up on. That’s a significant shift in US policy.”
The previous defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, had also said that the US did not seek conflict with China, but that was never included in official statements released following his conversations with Chinese defence chiefs.
Trump triggered an explosive tariff war between the two countries on his return to power earlier this year, although tensions have eased more recently following rounds of talks.
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US defence chief Pete Hegseth warns of ‘imminent’ China threat during Shangri-La Dialogue
US defence chief Pete Hegseth warns of ‘imminent’ China threat during Shangri-La Dialogue
He said: “What both sides have seemingly done is they’ve prioritised the economic negotiations and really removed the focus of effort or attention that they’re putting on other more friction-filled areas of the relationship, perhaps diplomatic or security or defence-related issues.”
Taken together with other statements by US officials, Sbragia said Hegseth’s comments to Dong indicated that the Trump administration “does seem to have come to grips with an approach that seeks to find a coexistence with China”.
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A fundamental aspect of this was “the recognition that the stability of the relationship has to be given the priority as a strategic political goal between the two sides” instead of other “proximal issues” that could heighten tensions or spark conflict.
Sbragia said both countries had long-standing assumptions and thought they had advantages over the other, but these were increasingly proving to be untrue. He predicted that as a result they would “slowly turn and understand the need to develop this relationship in a more sophisticated manner”.
Asked about a possible summit between the two presidents, Sbragia said Washington was probably looking for more than just “marginal discussion points or outcomes”.
Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the forum that what mattered to Beijing was Washington’s actions, not statements from Pentagon chiefs.
Wu said previous US leaders, including Joe Biden, made similar comments about not seeking conflict, “but if you compare US policies and actions, that doesn’t really reflect the rhetoric”.
He said: “From the earlier message we received … the Trump administration will still very much focus on the Asia-Pacific with China as a target and is trying to mobilise its allies in this region to join the US in deterring China, particularly in the Taiwan Strait.
“So in that sense, I don’t find this kind of statement particularly convincing and reassuring.”
Wu said Taiwan would be key to whether Washington and Beijing could coexist peacefully, and the “common ground was actually peaceful reunification”.
“If the US can support China’s peaceful reunification … both in words and deeds, then I think that will help a lot in bringing the two countries into a peaceful coexistence.”
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory, and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. The US, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as independent but is opposed to any attempt to take it by force and is committed to arming the island to defend itself.