Pentagon chief says US will ensure 'deterrence' across Taiwan Strait

Hegseth also stopped short of publicly calling on Tokyo to hike military spending, saying in Japan he trusted the close US ally to "make the correct determination of what capabilities are needed". "America is committed to sustaining robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait," Hegseth said, using Washington's term for the Asia-Pacific region. Beijing has stepped up military pressure in recent years around Taiwan, including near-daily air incursions...