Thitinan Pongsudhirak: "Pete Hegseth's dangerous call to arms in Asia"
The commentary argues that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's push for Asian allies to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP may trigger a regional arms race, particularly with China, and could undermine security. It contends that ASEAN's role in maintaining regional stability is more valuable than a costly build-up.