Pentagon Chief Warns China's Threats, Encourages Asian Allies To Increase Defense Budget

United States (US) Defense Minister Pete Hegseth/PHOTO Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - United States (US) Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned of threats from China as real and potentially threatening.

The US is urging allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defense needs.

Hegseth, speaking for the first time at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's main forum for defense leaders, military and diplomats, stressed that the Indo-Pacific region is a priority for the Trump administration.

"There is no reason to cover it up. The threat caused by China is real, and it could happen soon," the Pentagon Chief said.

According to him, every attempt by China to conquer Taiwan will have devastating consequences for Indo-Pacific and the world. The US Defense Minister reiterated that US President Donald Trump's statement that China would not attack Taiwan under the supervision of the president.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with a democratic island and have a separate government, with violence if necessary.

China is increasing military and political pressure to assert these claims, including increasing the intensity of war games around Taiwan.

The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's claim to sovereignty, saying only the island's population can decide their future.

"Everyone should know that Beijing is credible preparing to use military force to change the balance of power in the Indo Pacific," Hegseth said.

However, statements about allies needing to increase spending are likely to cause concern among partners, although experts say Hegseth will face a relatively friendly audience in Singapore.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun has decided not to attend the main Asian and Beijing security forums, only sending academic delegations.

Hegseth had previously targeted allies in Europe for not issuing more funds for their own defenses. In February, he warned Europe against treating America like a "bord man" during a speech at a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.