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.