Hegseth tones down warnings about China but says US remains committed to Pacific security

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized continued American commitment to Pacific security while downplaying previous warnings about China's military threat. He highlighted efforts to build a 'constructive relationship of strategic stability' with China following President Trump's recent meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, though he reiterated the U.S. priority of preventing Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific. Chinese officials praised the Trump-Xi consensus, while U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth criticized the administration's approach as overly accommodating to China.