Hegseth warns China poses 'imminent' threat to Taiwan and urges Asia to boost defence
- Rahaman Hadisur
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned that China poses an "imminent" threat to Taiwan, urging Asian countries to increase defence spending and collaborate with the US to deter potential conflict.
Speaking at the high-level Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth emphasized that while the US does not seek to "dominate or strangle China," it will not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated.
In response, China accused the US of being the "biggest troublemaker" for regional peace.
Many in Asia fear potential instability if China invades Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by Beijing. China has not ruled out the use of force.
Hegseth characterized China as seeking to become a "hegemonic power" aiming to "dominate and control too many parts" of Asia. He noted that China has clashed with several neighbours over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
He stated that Beijing is "credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power" in Asia, referencing a 2027 deadline allegedly set by President Xi Jinping for China's military to be capable of invading Taiwan.
This date has been cited by US officials and generals for years but has never been confirmed by Beijing.
"China is building the military needed to do it, training for it every day, and rehearsing for the real deal," Hegseth said.
"Let me be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. We hope not, but it certainly could be."
Hegseth added that the US does not seek war or conflict with China.
"We do not seek to dominate or strangle China, to encircle or provoke. We do not seek regime change… but we must ensure that China cannot dominate us or our allies and partners," he said, adding, "we will not be pushed out of this critical region."
In response, the Chinese embassy in Singapore posted a note on its Facebook page stating that the speech was "steeped in provocations and instigation" and that Hegseth had "repeatedly smeared and attacked China and relentlessly played up the so-called 'China threat'."
"As a matter of fact, the US itself is the biggest 'troublemaker' for regional peace and stability," it added. Examples cited included the US "deploying offensive weapons" in the South China Sea and conducting reconnaissance of what the embassy called "Chinese islands and reefs."
"What the US now offers the most to the world is 'uncertainty'," the embassy said. "The country claims to safeguard peace and not to seek conflicts. We've heard it. Let's see what moves it will take."
China's robust rhetoric came as it deliberately diminished its presence at the dialogue.
Organised by the think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Shangri-La Dialogue has traditionally served as a platform for the US and China to present their positions to Asian countries as the superpowers vie for influence.
However, this year, while the US sent one of its largest delegations ever, China sent a notably lower-level team and scrapped its planned speech on Sunday.
No official explanation has been given, although a state media piece sought to downplay the move by quoting an anonymous expert who said China's decision not to send its defence minister "should not be overinterpreted."
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