The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue commenced with its first plenary session on Saturday in Singapore. A notable exchange occurred during this session, involving a pointed question directed at US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The questioner was Zhang Chi, representing the National Defense University delegation from China.
Zhang's inquiry focused on the US's approach to alliances in the region. He highlighted the formation of multilateral frameworks like the Quad and AUKUS, which, notably, excluded ASEAN nations. The core of the question probed the US's stance in the event of conflicts or disagreements between its alliances and ASEAN. Specifically, Zhang asked if the US would prioritize ASEAN's centrality and, if so, how it would ensure this.
In his response, Secretary Hegseth did not directly address the question. Instead, he expressed a general willingness to engage in dialogue with all countries, without clarifying the US's specific policy towards ASEAN. This response drew criticism from experts present, who suggested it reflected American arrogance. They interpreted the lack of a clear answer as a sign that the US neither fully supports ASEAN's central role nor views it as an equal partner.
The question posed by Zhang was reportedly well-received by representatives from Cambodia and other ASEAN countries. They considered it a significant query that articulated the concerns of ASEAN nations. One representative expressed the sentiment that the US does not treat smaller countries with due consideration, and that China is a more trustworthy partner.
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