US Warns of Imminent China Threat, Urges Allies to Act

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US is prepared to "fight and win" against China if deterrence efforts fail, while urging Asian allies to strengthen military coordination and raise defense spending at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore. Hegseth criticized China's behavior in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, and accused Beijing of destabilizing the region. The absence of China's Defense Minister Dong Jun from the summit has raised doubts over a potential bilateral meeting between US and Chinese defense officials. The US plans to increase weapon sales to Taiwan to enhance its deterrence capabilities amid rising tensions with China.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Asia-Pacific allies that China's threat to Taiwan is "real" and "imminent," urging them to boost defense spending and stand together against Beijing's aggression, as China prepares to potentially use military force to alter the regional balance of power. Hegseth stated that the US cannot deter China's threat alone and called on allies to be "force multipliers" against Beijing, pointing to NATO allies who have increased defense spending to 5% of GDP. Tensions between Washington and Beijing are high, with China sending a low-level delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue forum instead of its defense minister, and no sidelines meeting between the two countries is expected.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned at the Shangri-La Dialogue that China is attempting to "fundamentally alter the region's status quo" in the Indo-Pacific, posing a "real and imminent" threat, and urged US allies to increase defence spending, highlighting China's efforts to potentially take over Taiwan by force by 2027.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian countries to increase their military spending to counter the "imminent" threat from China, which he said was "rehearsing for the real deal" in potentially taking over Taiwan. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth outlined new joint projects, including expanded access to military ship and plane repair, and reiterated the US commitment to increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. He encouraged Asian nations to follow the example of European countries, which had increased their defensive spending under the Trump administration. Hegseth's comments were met with some criticism from US Democratic senator Tammy Duckworth, who found his language "patronising" and emphasized the need for the US to stand together with its allies rather than trying to dictate their actions.