U.S.-China bonhomie at Ganeva talks over: Washington again in aggressive move against China

Hegseth's threat perception however, is not fully shared by Asian allies including Japan

- BY ASAD MIRZA

At the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged US allies in Asia to boost defences fast, saying America is shifting its strategy to counter growing threats from China.

During his speech at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth painted a picture which warned that China is “credibly preparing” to use military force to shift the power balance in Asia, saying that the US remains firmly committed to the Indo-Pacific region, news agency AFP reported.

Hegseth said the threat posed by China is “real and could be imminent.” He accused Beijing of building up military capabilities to potentially invade Taiwan and “rehearsing for the real deal” through repeated large-scale exercises.

Hegseth urged US allies in Asia to quickly bolster their defences, saying that the US was adjusting its strategy to deter aggression from communist China.

The comments come amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, and regional influence. Since assuming office in January, President Trump has launched a trade war with China, restricted access to advanced AI technologies, and strengthened security ties with allies such as the Philippines.

Hegseth called China’s actions a “wake-up call”, accusing Beijing of endangering lives with cyber-attacks, harassing neighbours, and “illegally seizing and militarising lands” in the South China Sea. He reiterated that the US is committed to ensuring “China cannot dominate us — or our allies and partners”.

At the Singapore security forum, Hegseth emphasised that the Indo-Pacific remains “America’s priority theatre” and reaffirmed Trump's pledge that “China will not invade (Taiwan) on his watch”.