Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toned down previous rhetoric calling China a threat in a visit to Singapore on Saturday, but told allies the region "has profound implications for U.S. security and prosperity." As the U.S. has done for decades, Hegseth tried to straddle the line between not angering Chinese leaders and still not ostracizing Taiwan. Unlike last year, Hegseth said the U.S. respects China's ambitions in the region. "I think our message today was very much in sync with precisely