Is the United States changing its stance on Taiwan?
Recently, I read remarks by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. If one compares this statement with last year’s, there is a clear difference in tone; the absence of any mention of Taiwan is particularly striking. Does this mean that the United States is changing its position on the island’s sovereignty?
Last year:
>It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. We know. It's public that Xi has ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. The PLA is building the military needed to do it. Training for it every day. And rehearsing for the real deal. Admiral Paparo has spoken very clearly about this on multiple occasions.
>Again, to be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real.
This year -- not a single mention of Taiwan, not once. Commentators here in Poland have noticed this, and if it’s true, it’s rather worrying for us. I wonder how this forum sees it? Maybe we get it wrong.