US won’t leave Indo-Pacific alone against China, says Hegseth

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Indo-Pacific allies of continued support against China's growing influence, urging them to increase defense spending and readiness. He highlighted China's military buildup, ambitions in Latin America, and simulated invasion of Taiwan. Despite redeployments to other regions, Hegseth emphasized the importance of a strong allied network and cautioned against economic dependence on China.