31日上午，第22届香格里拉对话会（简称“香会”）第一场全体会议举行。国防大学代表团成员张弛向美国防长赫格塞思提问：你提到盟友和伙伴很重要。但是美国近年在本地区建立的多边联盟和框架，例如美日澳印四边机制和美英澳三边安全伙伴关系，都没有包括东盟国家。所以，如果美国的联盟和东盟之间产生分歧或争端，你选择哪一边？你是否支持东盟的中心地位？如果是，你又如何能够通过上述方式来确保东盟的中心地位？

The first plenary session of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue was held on Saturday morning in Singapore. Zhang Chi, a member of the National Defense University delegation from China, posed a pointed question to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “You mentioned that allies and partners are important. However, in recent years, when the US set up multilateral alliances and frameworks in this region, such as the Quad (US-Japan-Australia-India) and AUKUS (US-UK-Australia), it did not include ASEAN countries. So, if there are differences or disputes between the US alliances and ASEAN, which side do you choose? Do you support ASEAN's centrality? If so, how can you ensure ASEAN's centrality in this way? ” Zhang asked.

对于张弛的提问，赫格塞思顾左右而言他，只说愿与所有国家开展对话，没有阐述美国对东盟的政策。与会的专家对《环球时报》记者表示，这实际上体现了美国的傲慢，美国并不支持东盟的中心地位，没有把东盟当做平等的伙伴看待。

In response to Zhang's question, Hegseth avoided directly answering, merely stating a willingness to engage in dialogue with all countries, without elaborating on US policy towards ASEAN. Experts attending the session told Global Times reporters that this response reflected American arrogance, suggesting the US neither supports ASEAN's centrality nor does it regard ASEAN as an equal partner.

有与会人士对《环球时报》记者表示，在张弛提问后，邻座的柬埔寨等东盟国家代表认为说提问非常棒，点到了关键问题，讲出了东盟国家的心声。有代表表示，“实际上美国根本没把我们这些小国放在眼里，赫格塞思非常傲慢，咄咄逼人，中国才是我们可以信赖的伙伴。”

Some attendees told Global Times that Zhang’s question was praised by representatives from Cambodia and other ASEAN countries who consider the question very excellent as it highlights a critical issue, and voices the concerns of ASEAN nations. One representative told the Global Times that the US does not take us small countries seriously at all. Hegseth is very arrogant and overbearing, China is the partner we can trust.