Pentagon Chief Sets Europeans As An Example To Allies In Asia

The threat from China is real and potentially imminent.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the threat from China is real and potentially imminent, and urged allies in the Indo-Pacific region to spend more on their own defense needs, taking an example from Europe.

According to "European Pravda".

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

"There is no reason to downplay the importance. The threat posed by China is real, and it may be imminent," Hegseth said in one of his sharpest comments on the communist country since taking office in January. He added that any Chinese attempt to conquer Taiwan "would have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world," and echoed Trump's comment that China would not invade Taiwan during his presidency.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" the democratic and separately governed island, using force if necessary. It has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games around Taiwan.

The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's claims of sovereignty, saying only the island's people can decide their own future.

"It should be clear to everyone that Beijing is obviously preparing for the potential use of military force to change the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific," Hegseth said.

But his comments about the need for increased allied spending are likely to cause consternation among partners, even though experts say Hegseth will have a relatively friendly audience in Singapore. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun decided to skip Asia's premier security forum, and Beijing sent only an academic delegation.

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