US, Japan, Taiwan Push Deterrence as Shangri-La Defense Forum Opens

The U.S. and Japan are set to address Asia’s top defense forum as China’s military buildup and rising nuclear-risk concerns shape regional security debates.

Police vehicles are seen at the Shangri-La Hotel during the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30, 2025. Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images

Asia’s top annual defense forum opens in Singapore this weekend, with the United States, Japan, and Taiwan each placing deterrence at the center of their Indo-Pacific security posture.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to address the Shangri-La Dialogue on the morning of May 30 in a session titled “United States’ Strategy for Peace in the Indo-Pacific.” Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is scheduled to speak on Sunday on “Managing Regional Tensions Amid Global Competition.”