Asian Countries Must Handle China Without Much U.S. Help

Asian countries are learning they may have to deal with China's growing power mostly on their own. The Trump administration told leaders at a big defense meeting in Singapore that America will focus more on protecting countries closer to home. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said wealthy nations need to pay more for their own defense instead of depending on the United States.

Hegseth told the crowd that Asian countries must spend 3.5 percent of their money on defense. He said America would not keep paying to protect rich countries anymore. But he did not say much about China, even though many Asian nations worry about China's military getting stronger. This left America's allies confused about what the U.S. would do to help them.

Many Asian leaders stayed quiet about their concerns during the meeting. They know they cannot always count on America to protect them from China. One government official said countries are secretly planning for a future without American help. These leaders still say nice things about working with America, but they are making backup plans.

Some countries just want to avoid trouble completely. Singapore's defense minister said the world has enough problems already. He thinks Asian countries should try to stay out of fights if they can. Even India, which fought Chinese soldiers in the mountains just a few years ago, now wants to be friends with China again.