US Defense Secretary Issues Stark Warning on China's "Imminent" Taiwan Threat at Asian Security Summit

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered one of his strongest warnings yet about China's military intentions toward Taiwan, declaring the threat "real" and potentially "imminent" during his keynote address at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Speaking to Asia's premier defense forum attended by military officials, diplomats, and business leaders from across the region, Hegseth characterized China as seeking to become a "hegemonic power" that aims to "dominate and control too many parts" of Asia.

The defense secretary told the high-level audience that "there's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," marking some of his most forceful comments on China since taking office in January 2025. Hegseth specifically focused his warning on Beijing's stance toward Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

Central to Hegseth's concerns is the widely discussed 2027 deadline that US officials believe President Xi Jinping has set for China's military to be capable of invading Taiwan. While Beijing has never officially confirmed this timeline, Hegseth emphasized that China "is building the military needed to do it, training for it, every day and rehearsing for the real deal." He warned that "any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world."

The timing and venue of Hegseth's remarks underscore the strategic importance of the message. The annual Shangri-La Dialogue has traditionally served as a critical platform for both the United States and China to make their respective cases to Asian nations as they compete for regional influence. However, this year's summit has been notable for China's conspicuous low-profile approach, sending a notably junior delegation and canceling its planned keynote speech, with no official explanation provided for these decisions.

China's response was swift and sharp. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong public rebuke, accusing Hegseth of touting a "cold war mentality" and warning the United States against "playing with fire" over Taiwan. The diplomatic exchange highlights the deteriorating state of US-China relations and the increasingly heated rhetoric surrounding the Taiwan issue.

Beyond the Taiwan-specific warnings, Hegseth used his address to call on Asian allies and partners to significantly increase their defense spending and work more closely with the United States to deter potential Chinese aggression. He announced that the US is refocusing its strength and policies on deterring China and emphasized that while America does not "seek to dominate or strangle China," it would not be pushed out of Asia and would not allow the intimidation of its allies.

The defense secretary revealed that President Donald Trump has pledged not to let Taiwan fall to China on his watch and called on regional partners to band together against Beijing's assertive behavior, not only regarding Taiwan but also concerning other territorial disputes where China has clashed with neighbors, particularly in the South China Sea.

Hegseth's remarks appeared to cast aside the long-standing US policy of strategic ambiguity regarding Taiwan, with analysts noting that he essentially stated America would go to war to stop China from invading Taiwan. This represents a significant shift in rhetoric, if not policy, regarding one of the world's most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints.

The broader context of Hegseth's warnings includes ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with several Southeast Asian nations, and Beijing's increasing military exercises around Taiwan. Hegseth urged political and defense leaders to act with urgency in pushing back against China's mounting military pressure in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, noting that "China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region's status quo."

According to multiple reports from Reuters, CNN, and other major news outlets covering the summit, Hegseth's speech represented the Trump administration's military policy pivot from Europe to Asia, emphasizing the Indo-Pacific as the "priority theater" for Washington strategists. The defense secretary stressed that the United States shares the region's "vision of peace and stability, of prosperity and security" and reassured allies that "we are here to stay."

However, the reception among Asian nations appears mixed, with many regional leaders preferring not to choose sides between the world's two largest economies. As reported by The Washington Post, while Asian countries appreciate US security guarantees, they also value their economic relationships with China and are wary of being forced into a binary choice between Washington and Beijing.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, formally known as the IISS Asia Security Summit, brings together defense ministers, military chiefs, and security experts from across the Asia-Pacific region annually. This year's summit has been particularly significant given the escalating tensions between the US and China, with Hegseth's appearance marking one of the largest US delegations ever sent to the forum.