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Trump presses Asia-Pacific allies on defense spending amid China threat
Analysts warn that allies building more of their own defense industries could ultimately dilute U.S. dominance in the global arms trade.
Donald Trump’s demands that Asia-Pacific allies take on more of the defensive burden have renewed questions about how much countries in the region can rely on the United States to deter threats from China and North Korea, according to SCMP Economy.
The push is also tied to broader concerns about regional deterrence and strategic chokepoints, with analysts pointing to the chain between mainland China and the Pacific as a potential barrier to access open waters.
SCMP Economy notes that Beijing views the island as part of China and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control, which keeps the stakes high for the security posture of nearby allies.
The outlet adds that worries about long-term reliance on the U.S. have spurred greater attention to developing domestic defense capabilities, though analysts say that shift could eventually weaken American dominance in the global arms trade.