Hegseth calls $1.5 trillion defence budget 'critical' to counter China
The Pentagon chief warned the US risks falling behind China in drones, robotics and AI without major new investment in military capabilities.
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By Pacific Post Staff·Published
A man in a blue suit gestures while speaking at a public event · Source: AFP
The US defense secretary described a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget as critical to maintaining military superiority over China, warning that without substantial new investment the United States risks falling behind in key areas including drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
The remarks reflect growing concern within the Pentagon that China's rapid military modernization, particularly in emerging technology areas, could erode the technological edge the United States has traditionally relied on. Officials have pointed to advances in autonomous systems and AI-enabled military technology as areas where the gap between the two countries has narrowed significantly in recent years.
The budget proposal would mark one of the largest peacetime defense spending levels in US history, and is likely to face scrutiny in Congress over both its scale and how funds would be allocated across traditional military programs versus emerging technology investment. Lawmakers from both parties have signaled support for increased technology spending, even as broader questions about the budget's size and priorities remain unresolved.
The push for higher defense spending comes amid a broader reassessment in Washington of military strategy toward the Indo-Pacific region, where officials have increasingly framed competition with China as the central long term challenge facing US defense planning. Analysts say the emphasis on drones, robotics, and AI reflects a recognition that future conflicts may be shaped as much by technological capability as by traditional measures of military strength.
