US Defense Secretary Pete Hagert warned that China is “seriously preparing” to use military force to disrupt the balance of power in Asia and promised that the US “will remain” in the region.
The defense secretary made the comments during an annual security forum in Singapore as the Trump administration wrangled with Beijing over trade, technology, and influence in strategic regions around the world.
Chinese representatives at the conference sharply criticized the speech, calling it “baseless accusations fabricated out of thin air.”
Trump launched a trade war with China after taking office in January, seeking to restrict its access to key artificial intelligence technologies and strengthening security ties with allies such as the Philippines, which is embroiled in escalating territorial disputes with Beijing.
“The threat posed by China is real and can be immediate,” Hegseth said during the Shangri-La Dialogue, which was attended by defense officials from around the world.
Beijing “is seriously preparing for the possible use of military force to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
Hegset warned that the Chinese military is building up its capacity to invade Taiwan and “rehearsing for the real thing.”
China has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan and conducted large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparation for a blockade or invasion.
The United States is “reorienting its efforts to deter communist China's aggression,” Hagsett said, calling on US allies and partners in Asia to accelerate their defense modernization in the face of growing threats. | BGNES, AFP