Trump’s defense chief vows to deter Beijing with allies
US President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick said Tuesday he is committed to working with allies to counter China’s “aggression” in Asia.
Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News Channel host, also said in his confirmation hearing that he will bring “the warrior culture back” to the Pentagon.
In his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee, before facing tough questions over his qualifications to run the Department of Defense, Hegseth stressed that the US military could have no better commander in chief than Trump, who will take office for a nonconsecutive second term next Monday.
Amid repeated interruptions by protesters, he said Trump wants “a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability and readiness.”
‘My job’
“That’s it. That is my job,” he said.
Hegseth, a dedicated Trump supporter who served in Afghanistan and Iraq but has no high-ranking national security or military experience, asserted that rebuilding the US military and reestablishing “real deterrence” are among his top priorities.
The 44-year-old did not touch on any security challenges in concrete terms. But he said, “We will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the communist Chinese.”
In written answers submitted to the committee ahead of the hearing, Hegseth said, “Developing joint warfighting capabilities and enhancing interoperability with Japan will greatly strengthen our deterrent posture in the Indo-Pacific.”
‘Nuclear power’
On North Korea, describing the country as a “nuclear power,” he said its focus on improving missile and cyber capabilities poses a threat to regional and global stability.
His characterization of North Korea could be controversial, as the United States has not officially recognized it as a nuclear weapons state.
During the hourslong hearing, Hegseth was repeatedly questioned about his views on women in combat and lack of management experience, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct and heavy drinking, with Democrats calling him unqualified for the job.
Hegseth was also tested on his knowledge of international affairs. Given that the nominee had said the Indo-Pacific region is critical for the United States, at one moment he was asked how many countries comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and to name at least one important member of the grouping.
Hegseth seemed to have never heard of Asean, saying he could not provide an exact answer but noted that Australia, Japan and South Korea are vital US allies in the region.
‘Little homework’
“None of those three countries that you mentioned are in Asean. I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations,” Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat member of the committee, who is fluent in Indonesian and Thai, told him sternly.
