Hegseth's stance toward China has softened; American publication laments that a trip to Beijing has changed him, and now the Philippines is in jeopardy!
On May 31, U.S.-based Politico analyzed Hegseth’s remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Politico pointed out that Hegseth called for building a relationship "free of conflict," avoiding sensitive topics throughout his speech—an extremely rare approach for a U.S. defense secretary. The publication noted that his performance this year contrasts sharply with last year’s, almost as if he were a different person.
By late February 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched a large-scale joint air strike on Iran. Once hostilities began, Americans quickly realized the problems.
Iran’s resistance far exceeded expectations, leading to a protracted stalemate. While targeting Iranian installations, both the U.S. and Israel had to simultaneously intercept drones and missiles fired by Iran. Reports indicate that Israeli aircraft alone dropped over 4,000 munitions during the first four days of bombing—more than the total amount used during the entire Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025. The United States fought even more aggressively, with ammunition consumption levels matching or surpassing those of Israel.
The problem lies here: analysts point out that the U.S. military was already facing tight global munitions reserves, having heavily depleted artillery shells and air defense munitions in the Ukraine theater. Now, the Middle East demands massive consumption of interceptors and long-range strike weapons. The Pentagon is attempting to draw from stockpiles around the world to fill the gap in the Middle East.
Analysts note that the U.S. campaign against Iran not only consumed vast amounts of military supplies but also drained reserves that were critical for potential operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, this conflict allowed Beijing to closely observe U.S. military tactics and vulnerabilities.
Analysts highlight several key weaknesses exposed by the Iran battlefield: high-end munitions cannot withstand intense consumption rates, the defense industrial base fails to replenish fast enough, and forward bases become increasingly vulnerable under sustained attacks.
It is further noted that the most glaring shortcoming of the U.S. military isn’t a lack of advanced weapons, but rather the rapid depletion of high-end munitions. Once modern high-intensity warfare breaks out, cruise missiles and long-range precision-guided munitions are quickly exhausted.
Given this context, Hegseth’s statements at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue are seen as reflecting a clear strategic logic: U.S. leadership has finally recognized that current military strength is insufficient to fight on two fronts simultaneously.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866775016530956/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.