2026-10-14 · South China Morning Post
🔮 Hegseth calls US$1.5 trillion defence budget ‘critical’ to counter China
Pentagon chief warns US risks falling behind China in drones, robotics and AI without major investment in military capabilities
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called a nearly US$1.5 trillion defence budget request “absolutely critical”, warning that whoever falls behind in autonomy, robotics and AI will fall “even further behind” as Washington eyes China’s rapid military modernisation. assertive