U.S. bolsters 'second island chain' defense with eye on China

Investment on Pacific island reflects threat of Beijing's growing missile capabilities

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on March 27. On his Indo-Pacific trip, Hegseth met with the president of the Federated States of Micronesia. (U.S. Air Force)

KEN MORIYASU

April 1, 2025 03:07 JST

WASHINGTON -- On his first trip to the Indo-Pacific as U.S. defense secretary last week, Pete Hegseth embraced America's alliances and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining robust deterrence in the region, including across the Taiwan Strait.

But he also made a little-noticed announcement at the start of the trip that points to another priority for the second Trump administration's Indo-Pacific strategy: bolstering the "second island chain."