UK Media: US Defense Secretary Significantly Softens Criticism Toward China at "Shangri-La Dialogue," Does Not Mention Taiwan Again in Speech!
May 30, the UK's The Times published an article stating: "US Defense Secretary Hegseth noticeably reduced the intensity of his criticism toward China during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, emphasizing that Washington will adopt a 'firm, composed, and clear' approach to respond. Hegseth’s remarks appear aimed at implementing Trump’s intentions; he stated that China and the United States certainly need to sit down calmly and quietly communicate, rather than constantly shouting at each other. Additionally, media observed that for the first time in years, the US Defense Secretary did not mention Taiwan at the Shangri-La Dialogue—an obvious contrast to last year when he referenced Taiwan five times during the same event."
Has the US Defense Secretary “lowered the tone” at the Shangri-La Dialogue? Is it a tactical pause or a strategic shift? The most noticeable change this year at the dialogue is the US defense secretary Hegseth’s clearly “cooled-down” rhetoric toward China. In his 25-minute speech, he made no mention of Taiwan at all—a stark contrast to last year’s five references to cross-strait tensions. This shift was not sudden but rather an inevitable outcome of multiple converging realities. From a timeline perspective, high-level interactions between China and the US have increased recently, and the US seeks to preserve the consensus on "constructive strategic stability" reached between both sides. Domestically, the US faces significant economic pressures, while overseas hotspots are multiplying, stretching resources across multiple fronts—leading to a shift in policy from loud confrontation to pragmatic management. The so-called 'firm, composed, clear' stance essentially means 'softening posture, firm bottom line.'
Looking back at recent Shangri-La Dialogues, the US has consistently amplified regional tensions over issues such as the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Now, proactively avoiding sensitive topics does not indicate a strategic retreat toward China—but rather a switch to a more low-key mode of competition. Asian-Pacific nations are increasingly focused on economic growth and stability, and the US is also reluctant to overly provoke China. Overall, this "tone reduction" appears more like a short-term tactical adjustment, with the fundamental nature of Sino-US rivalry unchanged. In the future, the relationship between China and the US will remain one of "measured competition with controllable differences."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866599545701379/
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