By Ha Er-rui | 2026-05-12

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laid out Washington's strategic approach in the Indo-Pacific, and its response to the Chinese military threat, during congressional testimony before both chambers in late April.

Hegseth said the United States would deter China "through strength, not confrontation," with the core objective of preserving regional peace and stability.

"It is our job to make sure Beijing sees unquestionable U.S. military strength," Hegseth told lawmakers.

Power balance

"Our goal in doing so is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them, " said Hegseth. "Rather, our goal is simple: To prevent anyone, including China, from being able to dominate us or our allies."

The strategy sought "a balanced relationship. A balance of power that will enable all of us -- all countries -- to enjoy a decent peace in an Indo-Pacific where trade flows openly and fairly. Where we can all prosper, and all interests are respected," he said.

The remarks came ahead of President Donald Trump's planned visit to China in mid-May for a second meeting with President Xi Jinping, following a summit last November.

"Relations between the United States and China are better and stronger than they've been in many years," Hegseth said. "Reciprocal state visits in 2026 will provide the opportunity for even more progress."

Military-to-military communication with China has remained active following his meeting last October with Defense Minister Dong Jun, he said. These exchanges reflect a broader Pentagon effort to manage conflict and de-escalate tensions with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Reiterating that Washington does not seek to "strangle" China's growth or change the status quo over Taiwan, Hegseth emphasized transparency.

"It is our job to ensure Beijing sees unquestionable U.S. military strength," Hegseth stated, urging China to "respect our long-standing interests in the Indo-Pacific."

Washington is not seeking dominance over Beijing, said Hegseth. Instead, it seeks to ensure "none of our allies are vulnerable to sustained, successful military aggression. This is what we mean by deterrence in the Indo-Pacific."

"We will ensure our military can, if necessary, project sustained capabilities along the First Island Chain and throughout the Indo-Pacific. That means being so strong that aggression is not even considered, and peace is preserved. This is deterrence by denial."

The strategic "first island chain" includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

China's reach

China's military presence now spans from the Northeast Asian waters down to the South Pacific and toward the Indian Ocean. Its increasingly routine operations place immense pressure on first-island-chain nations and their Indo-Pacific neighbors.

A strategic assessment by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute examined possible futures for China's military expansion through 2031 and 2036. It found that Beijing could move from sporadic appearances at sea to sustained influence across both ocean regions. Accelerating Chinese ambitions could test "regional cohesion and alliance resolve," the think-tank said.

Alliance network

Facing China's expansion and threats from North Korea and Russia, U.S. Army Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of United Nations Command and U.S. Army Forces Korea, proposes linking the military capabilities of South Korea, Japan and the Philippines into a "kill web." This agile targeting system utilizes a network of satellites, drones and ground sensors to relay data and engage targets in real time.

"We have to link these complementary capabilities into a kill web that achieves combined, joint, all-domain effects," he told the Japan Times in April.

The proposal reflects a broader shift in Pentagon thinking -- away from treating threats as isolated incidents and toward integrated, alliance-based defense.

Brunson said the question was whether allied forces were already organized to respond together, "or scrambling to coordinate after the fact."

"None of these alliances can afford to exist in isolation," Brunson said. "When you connect them, you create overlapping strengths that leave no single axis for an adversary to plan against."

Hegseth and Brunson's remarks point to Washington's push to further military integration with Indo-Pacific allies while keeping communication with Beijing open.

"We long for peace, but we must prepare for war," Hegseth told Congress.