US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong warning to the Asia-Pacific region on May 31, 2025. Cautioning that China’s military ambitions toward Taiwan pose a real and potentially serious threat.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence forum, Hegseth said that the Chinese Communist Party is actively preparing to use force to alter the Indo-Pacific balance of power.
There is no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent
he stated.
Hegseth cited Chinese President Xi Jinping’s directive for the People’s Liberation Army to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.
The PLA is building the military needed to do it, training for it every day and rehearsing for the real deal
he said.
The US defence chief said that Trump is committed to defending Taiwan and warned that the US would not allow Beijing’s aggression to go unchecked.
He also urged US allies in the region to increase their defence capabilities and spending, pointing to NATO countries that have increased military budgets to 5% of GDP.
We ask – and indeed, we insist – that our allies and partners do their part on defense
Hegseth said, adding that nations in Asia face ‘an even more formidable threat’ than Europe, especially from China and North Korea.
Hegseth clarified that Washington is not seeking conflict, but will not tolerate intimidation or coercion in the Indo-Pacific.
We will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies be subordinated and intimidated
he said.
The speech comes amid worsening US-China relations. Beijing has responded sharply to increasing US military presence in Asia and Trump’s latest tariffs, which triggered a trade escalation earlier this year.
China declined to send their Defence Minister to Singapore
Meanwhile, China declined to send its defence minister to the Singapore summit for the first time in years, opting instead for a lower-level delegation. While Hegseth’s message echoes previous US policy of deterring Chinese aggression, it marks a more forceful tone under the Trump administration, analysts say.
Washington’s posture in Asia has renamed firm
Despite turbulence in US relations with Europe, Washington’s posture in Asia has remained firm, with continued military cooperation with Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea.
No meeting is expected between the U.S. and Chinese delegations at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue.
