U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently visited Asia. In addition to meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, he also met with the defense ministers of Japan and the Philippines. He emphasized that in the face of threats from China, the United States will build strong alliances and increase deterrence to deter China from rash actions. Meanwhile, a report in The Washington Post revealed that a U.S. strategic guidance document will focus on deterring China from seizing Taiwan and strengthening homeland defense.
Reuters reported that Hegseth attended the Iwo Jima memorial service with Ishiba on the 30th. Hegseth emphasized the importance of the US-Japan alliance and mentioned key partners in other regions, including Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea. "Trading strength for peace requires working with allies and partners across the Pacific," Hegseth said.
Zhang Guocheng, an advisory member of a Taiwanese think tank, told RT-TV that the US State Department and the Pentagon have repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific and continue to prioritize cooperation with existing allies. Currently, there are no signs of any cancellation or loosening of cooperation. "China's attitude and readiness to use force to change the status quo are worrying. The United States is adopting a deterrent approach to prevent China from misjudging its resolve."
Washington Post: The United States prioritizes deterring China from seizing Taiwan and strengthening its homeland defense
During Hegseth's visit to Asia, The Washington Post revealed a confidential Pentagon document, the "Medium-Term Strategic Guidance," distributed to the entire Department of Defense in mid-March and signed by Hegseth. The document indicates that the United States has refocused its military strategy, focusing on deterring China from seizing Taiwan, strengthening homeland defense, and "taking risks" in Europe and other regions.
The report notes that both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration viewed China as the greatest threat to the United States and implemented war preparations and deterrence deployments for conflict in the Pacific. However, Hegseth's guidance document is unique in that it "identifies a Chinese invasion of Taiwan as the sole priority scenario, thereby recalibrating the vast US military architecture to focus on the Indo-Pacific region, moving beyond homeland defense."
“China is the Department of Defense’s only pacing threat, and preventing a de facto Chinese takeover of Taiwan while defending the U.S. homeland is the Department of Defense’s only pacing scenario,” Hegseth wrote, according to the document. The U.S. force planning framework — the Pentagon’s approach to building and allocating resources to respond to potential threats — would focus solely on preparing for a conflict with Beijing as the sole major power war, with European allies primarily responsible for responding to threats from Moscow.
Wang Dingyu: The United States is concentrating its political and military resources to deter China from invading Taiwan
Interpreting the document, Democratic Progressive Party legislator Wang Ting-yu stated that Taiwan is a vital core interest of the United States and the US cannot afford to risk losing Taiwan. Due to China's rapidly growing military power and limited US military and political resources, a reallocation of resources is necessary. The threat to Russia will be addressed by European allies, while the Middle East will be handled by Israel and regional allies, while the US will focus its efforts on countering China.
Wang Ting-yu: "This strategy also requires the United States to prepare for two things, a posture: first, a possible war with China, and second, preparations to defend the U.S. mainland. If China chooses to invade Taiwan, it could be met with U.S. militarism, concentrating military and political resources in the region to deter Chinese expansion."
Zhong Zhidong: Helping Taiwan resist the US is the top priority, and the relationship between the US and Taiwan is unprecedented.
Zhong Zhidong, an assistant researcher at the Institute for National Defense Strategy and Resources at the Taiwan think tank, the Institute for National Defense and Security, told Taiwan News that the US Department of Defense has prioritized assisting Taiwan in resisting China as its single highest strategic priority. "This is unprecedented in the history of US-Taiwan relations," he said, noting that even during the era of the mutual defense treaty, the memorandum underscores Taiwan's top priority in the US's overall global defense strategy.
"This also reflects that as the US strategic focus shifts from Europe to the Indo-Pacific, China has been seen as the most important global threat and competitor. Taiwan will be crucial in the future US regulation of economic, trade and security in the global industrial supply chain. The memorandum elevates Taiwan to a strategic priority, demonstrating Taiwan's indispensable role in geostrategic thinking," he added.
Zhong Zhidong stated that the Trump administration has consistently maintained a pragmatic "America First" stance, but its military commitment to Taiwan has not diminished despite its cuts in foreign military spending. Instead, it has maintained the same level of support as during the Biden administration, demonstrating its commitment to Taiwan's security. Earlier, during their first summit with Ishiba Shigeru, Trump also reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This continuity reflects the cross-government consensus on US policy toward Taiwan.
Zhang Guocheng believes the document is highly credible. Given China's increasingly assertive military expansionism and growing capabilities, the US's statement at this time is crucial. However, he cautions that compared to US-Japan and US-South Korea relations, where the US maintains military presence and conducts frequent joint military exercises, Taiwan-US military cooperation still lags significantly in terms of joint exercises, military equipment, and command systems. "Furthermore, Taiwan's internal defense consensus and investment are not as unified as those of Japan and South Korea, a key concern for the US."
Dispelling suspicion of the United States
When the United States was dealing with the Ukraine issue, some people in Taiwan hyped up the so-called "suspicion of the United States." Zhong Zhidong believes that this document has alleviated the so-called "suspicion of the United States" to a certain extent, proving that the United States still regards Taiwan as a key partner in the face of threats from China and is prepared to give priority support at the strategic and military levels.
Zhang Guocheng further clarified that while foreign policy shifts from the Biden administration to Trump's second term have occurred, this is separate from whether the United States will abandon Taiwan. Having differing views on US policy does not equate to suspicion of the US, nor does it equate to a pro-China stance. These are two entirely different things. Even if Taiwan believes it needs to strengthen its own capabilities and avoid over-reliance on the US, this does not necessarily mean it should adopt a pro-China stance.
At the memorial service on the 30th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, "In the face of an increasingly severe international environment, it is extremely important to strengthen the Japan-US alliance in order to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific region."
In addition, AFP reported that Hegseth, during a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, stated that Beijing, while increasing military pressure around Taiwan, has not ruled out the possibility of unifying Taiwan by force. Japan plays an indispensable role in responding to Chinese aggression and helping Washington establish a "credible deterrent" in the region, including the Taiwan Strait.
Hegseth held a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on the 28th. He noted that "this symbolizes an unbreakable alliance, especially in the face of Communist China's aggression in the region. Our partnership demonstrates a commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific." He quoted US President Trump's frequent emphasis on the concept of "peace through strength," saying, "We do not seek war, we seek peace, but those who desire peace must be prepared for war."
