The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue is being held in Singapore. It is obvious that U.S. Defense Secretary Higgenbotham, who is making his debut at the Shangri-La Dialogue, regards it as his personal best stage. In his speech, he made all sorts of boastful statements, leaving people at a loss for words. And regarding whether China and the United States will go to war or maintain peace, he made his stance clear. [Higgenbotham emphasized two key points in his speech:] 1. First, he clearly stated that the United States does not seek a hot war with China, but he is unwilling to abandon military threats against China and will not allow the U.S. to be "pushed out" of the Indo-Pacific region. He claimed that if the U.S. military's deterrence fails, the Pentagon is prepared for combat and believes they will surely win. 2. Second, he put forward a requirement to America's allies in Asia, asking these countries to increase their defense budgets to 5% of GDP. Moreover, he indicated that the U.S. has also made such a demand to the EU. In other words, regarding the issue of war or peace, Higgenbotham is making preparations on both fronts: first deterrence, then action if deterrence fails. As for the Asian allies mentioned by Higgenbotham and the U.S.'s other global allies, their reactions to the speech of this U.S. defense minister are entirely within China's expectations: no country representative expressed full support for Higgenbotham during the Shangri-La Dialogue. To summarize, the U.S. has seven major allies globally: Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, the EU, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Let's discuss a few of them: First, South Korea. Before this Shangri-La Dialogue, Time magazine interviewed Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for South Korean president. The reporter asked him, "Will South Korea intervene in a possible Taiwan Strait conflict?" Lee Jae-myung clearly stated, "I will only consider this issue if the Earth is invaded by extraterrestrials!" Clearly, this is a refusal to intervene. Lee Jae-myung's attitude actually represents the stance of many senior South Korean politicians. His current approval rating far exceeds the second-place contender, and once he takes office, Sino-South Korean relations are expected to quickly improve. Next, France, an important representative country in the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron has made a clear statement during this Shangri-La Dialogue that he will not take sides between China and the U.S. He said, "Although France is an ally of the U.S., France also cooperates with China and is also a friend of China." This statement actually represents the stance of most EU member states. Moreover, don't forget that Trump once threatened to increase tariffs on the EU to 50%. Although the plan is currently suspended, Trump has not withdrawn this decision, and the 50% tariff could still hit the EU at any time. Under such circumstances, can the EU fully support the U.S.? In addition, countries like Canada currently have a deep grudge against the Trump administration. Trump wants to make Canada a state of the U.S., and Canadian citizens burning American flags in the streets is not just once or twice. In fact, among the allies the U.S. hopes to rely on, the Philippines is truly willing to help. During Higgenbotham's speech, although the Philippine representatives did not voice full support for the U.S. defense secretary due to the presence of the Chinese delegation, they were undoubtedly pleased inside. Because Higgenbotham's words indicate that the U.S. will not withdraw from the Indo-Pacific region, and the Philippines will temporarily not lose this reliance. However, given the Philippines' military strength, what can they do to assist the U.S. army? Besides causing trouble in the South China Sea, we cannot think of any other role for the Philippine military. In summary, Higgenbotham's various statements at this Shangri-La Dialogue actually reassure China. Because his words indicate that the U.S. military lacks confidence in its own strength and can only rely on allies; otherwise, they have no way to deal with China. For more information, let us continue to follow up. Original article: [https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510817484841222690/](https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510817484841222690/) Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.