U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned on May 31 that China is “credibly preparing” to use military force to overturn the balance of power in Asia, pledging that the United States “is here to stay” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth made these remarks at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Beijing over trade, technology, and strategic influence worldwide.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has engaged in a trade war with China, sought to restrict its access to key AI technologies, and strengthened security ties with allies, including the Philippines — a country with territorial disputes with China.
“The threat posed by China is real and could be imminent,” Hegseth declared.
According to Hegseth, Beijing is credibly preparing for the possible use of military force to shift the power balance in the Indo-Pacific.
He warned that the Chinese military is developing the capabilities to invade Taiwan, conducting exercises that simulate a real-world scenario. China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan — the self-governing island it claims as its own — and has held several military drills around the island, seen as preparations for a blockade or invasion.
“The U.S. is reorienting to deter aggression from Communist China,” Hegseth said, urging America’s Asian allies and partners to rapidly strengthen their defenses in the face of rising threats.
He described China’s behavior as a “wake-up call”, accusing Beijing of endangering lives through cyberattacks, bullying its neighbors, and illegally militarizing territories in the South China Sea.
China claims almost the entire disputed waterway, through which over 60% of global maritime trade passes — despite an international ruling rejecting its claims as baseless.
Tensions between China and the Philippines in these strategic waters have escalated in recent months, and U.S. officials expect the issue to dominate the defense summit discussions.
While Hegseth was speaking in Singapore, China’s military announced that its navy and air force were conducting routine combat-readiness patrols near the Scarborough Shoal, a contested reef chain claimed by both Beijing and Manila, according to Radio Free Europe.
“China’s aggressive stance in the South China Sea has only intensified in recent years,” said Casey Mace, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Singapore.
He noted that forums like Shangri-La are essential for open dialogue on these pressing issues.
China did not send a senior defense official to the summit but was represented by a delegation from the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army.
Hegseth’s speech drew sharp criticism from Chinese analysts attending the summit. Da Wei, director of the Center for Security and International Strategy at Tsinghua University, called the speech “very unfriendly” and “highly confrontational”, accusing Washington of double standards — demanding China respect its neighbors while pressuring its own.
