US Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett says China is a serious and imminent threat and has encouraged US allies in the Indo-Pacific region to spend more on their defense needs.
According to Reuters, Hegsett spoke for the first time on Saturday, May 31, at the Shangri-La Security Summit for defense leaders, military and diplomats in Singapore.
He explained America’s priorities in the region and said: “There is no reason to hide the truth; the threat posed by China is real and may soon be realized.”
He added that China is preparing to potentially use military force to shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
He further warned that any Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan would have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.
These statements are some of Hegsett’s strongest positions on China since he began working at the US Department of Defense.
