US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned that China poses an “imminent” threat to Taiwan and has urged Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war. Speaking during a high-level Asian defence summit in Singapore, Mr Hegseth said that while the US does not “seek to dominate or strangle China,” it would not be pushed out of Asia nor allow its allies to be intimidated.

In response, China has accused the US of being the “biggest troublemaker” for regional peace. Fears about potential instability are growing in Asia over the threat of China invading Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by Beijing. China has not ruled out the use of force. Speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, Mr Hegseth said China was seeking to become a “hegemonic power” that “hopes to dominate and control too many parts” of Asia.

“We do not seek conflict with Communist China. We will not instigate nor seek to subjugate or humiliate,” the Secretary of Defense said. “President Trump and the American people have an immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilisation. But we will not be pushed out of this critical region. And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated.”

“Through its massive military build-up and growing willingness to use military force to achieve its goals, including grey zone tactics and hybrid warfare, China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region’s status quo,” he continued.

“We cannot look away, and we cannot ignore it. China’s behaviour towards its neighbours and the world is a wake-up call. And an urgent one.”

China has clashed with several neighbours over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Mr Hegseth added that Beijing was “credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power” in Asia and referred to a 2027 deadline that President Xi Jinping has allegedly given for China’s military to be capable of invading Taiwan – a date that has been suggested by US officials and generals for many years, but has never been confirmed by Beijing.

China “is building the military needed to do it, training for it, every day and rehearsing for the real deal”, Hegseth said. “Let me be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. We hope not but certainly could be.”

Responding to the US official’s speech, the Chinese embassy in Singapore posted on its Facebook page saying the speech was “steeped in provocations and instigation” and said Hegseth had “repeatedly smeared and attacked China and relentlessly played up the so-called ‘China threat'”.

It called the US the “biggest troublemaker” for regional peace and stability, citing that the US deployed “offensive weapons” in the South China Sea and conducted reconnaissance of what it called “Chinese islands and reefs”.

“What the US now offers the most to the world is ‘uncertainty’,” the Embassy said. “The country claims to safeguard peace and not to seek conflicts. We’ve heard it. Let’s see what moves it will take.”