SINGAPORE, May 31– In a stark warning, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said China is “credibly preparing” to use military force to alter the power balance in Asia, calling the threat “real and possibly imminent.” Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth accused Beijing of rehearsing an invasion of Taiwan and militarising the South China Sea.
Hegseth called China’s military activities a “wake-up call”, urging Indo-Pacific allies to swiftly modernise their armed forces and raise defence spending. “We’re adjusting our strategy to deter communist China’s aggression,” he said.
The Pentagon chief reiterated former president Donald Trump’s pledge that Taiwan would not fall under Chinese control during his administration. Hegseth warned Beijing’s ambitions were no longer theoretical: “They are rehearsing for the real deal.”
His speech comes amid escalating US-China tensions over trade, technology, and territorial disputes. Since returning to power, Trump has launched a trade war, imposed restrictions on Chinese access to advanced AI, and strengthened ties with regional allies such as the Philippines.
Hegseth accused China of endangering regional peace through cyber attacks, harassment of neighbours, and illegal militarisation of land features in the South China Sea. He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to ensuring China does not dominate Asia or its allies.
The warning coincided with a new show of force by China, which announced “combat readiness patrols” near the Scarborough Shoal — a disputed reef chain contested by the Philippines. The announcement heightened concerns over a potential flashpoint in the region.
Notably, Beijing did not send top defence ministry officials to the Singapore summit, instead dispatching representatives from the PLA National Defence University. US officials criticised the absence, saying it limited constructive dialogue.
Casey Mace, chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Singapore, said: “China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has only increased. This forum is exactly where such issues must be confronted.”
Hegseth closed by reaffirming that the Indo-Pacific remains America’s ‘priority theatre’, signalling that the US intends to lead efforts to contain Chinese influence in the region.
