Singapore: The United States has warned that China is getting ready to use military strength in Asia. A top US official said China’s recent actions – including military exercises near Taiwan and in the South China Sea – show that it may be planning to change the balance of power in the region.
The warning comes when tensions between the two countries grow over trade, technology and security.
US defense secretary Pete Hegeth said this Saturday while talking at an annual security forum in Singapore as the administration of US President Donald Trump saves with Beijing on trade, technology and influence on strategic corners of the globe.
China’s Foreign Ministry blasted the speech and said it had “filed solemn representations with the American side” over Hegeth’s comments and taken a special exception to his comments on Taiwan.
Trump has launched a trade war with China since joining in January, trying to limit his access to key -aai technologies and elaborated on security ties with allies such as the Philippines dealing with escalating territorial disputes with Beijing.
“The threat that China pose is real, and it could be imminent,” Hegeth said in the Shangri-La dialogue, participating in defense officials from all over the world.
Beijing is “credibly preparing for potentially using military strength to change the balance of power in Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Hegeth warned that the Chinese military built the capabilities to invade Taiwan and “practice for the right deal”.
China has increased military pressure on Taiwan and held great exercises around the self -controlled democratic island, often described in preparations for a blockade or invasion.
The United States “Omorized against deterring aggression of communist China,” Hegeth said, calling on us allies and partners in Asia to quickly upgrade their defense in the light of rising threats.
In Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “
‘Stirring Problems’
Hegeth described China’s behavior as a “wake-up call”, accused Beijing of jeopardizing life with cyber attacks, harassing his neighbors and “illegally seizing and militarizing countries” in the disputed South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entire waterway, through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade goes, despite an international decision that its claim has no profit.
It has repeatedly collided with the Philippines in the strategic waters in recent months, with flash points set to dominate discussions on the Singapore forum, according to US officials.
When Hegeth spoke in Singapore, China’s military announced that its fleet and Air Force performed routine “combat readiness patrols” around Scarborough Shoal, a chain of reefs and cuts Beijing disputes with the Philippines.
Beijing sent no top defense of the Ministry of Defense to the summit and instead sent a delegation from People’s Liberation Army National Defense University led by the back of Admiral Hu Gangfeng.
Without referring to Hegeth by name, Hu said of his speech that “these actions are essentially about touching problems, creating division, encouraging confrontation and destabilizing the Asia-Stop Sea.”
Hegeth’s comments came after Trump stabbed new merchant tensions with China and argued that Beijing had “violated” an agreement to step down tariffs as the two sides seemed to be the deadwater in the negotiations.
The world’s two largest economies agreed to temporarily lower eye -wandering
‘Can’t dominate’
Insurance of us allies on Saturday, Hegeth said the Asia-Stophav region was “America’s Priority Theater,” which promised to ensure that “China cannot dominate us-or our allies and partners”.
He said the United States had increased cooperation with allies, including the Philippines and Japan, and repeated Trump’s promise that “China will not invade (Taiwan) on his clock”.
However, he urged US partners in the region to increase the cost of their military and “quickly upgrade their own defense”.
“Asian allies should look to countries in Europe for a newly won example,” Hegeth said, quoting promises from NATO members, including Germany to move against Trump’s defense spending on five percent of GDP.
“Discourage is not coming cheap.”
