Defense Secretary issues caution on China's potential use of military power in Asian regions
In Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sounded the alarm, stating that China is preparing to use military force to disrupt the equilibrium in Asia. Hegseth delivered these remarks during the annual security forum, as the Trump administration engages in a standoff with Beijing over trade, technology, and global influence.
Since taking office, US President Donald Trump has waged a trade war on China, aimed to curtails its access to critical AI technologies, and strengthened ties with key allies. The Philippines, which is involved in territorial disputes with China, demonstrates one such alliance.
"The threat China poses is genuine; it could be imminent," Hegseth proclaimed at the Shangri-La Dialogue, attended by defense officials hailing from around the globe.
China, according to Hegseth, is "credibly preparing for the possibility of employing military force to upset the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific."
Hegseth cautioned that the Chinese military is developing the capabilities to invade Taiwan and rehearsing for eventualities. In recent months, China has increased military pressure on Taiwan and has conducted numerous large-scale military exercises near the island, which are often perceived to be rehearsals for a blockade or invasion.
"The United States is reorienting its focus toward deterring aggression by communist China," Hegseth declared, urging US allies and partners in Asia to swiftly enhance their defenses in the face of mounting threats.
Hegseth considered China's actions to be a "wake-up call," accusing Beijing of compromising the safety of its neighbors and stealing intellectual property through cyber attacks. Furthermore, China's claim to almost the entire South China Sea—one of the world's most traveled maritime trade routes—despite a ruling against it, aggravates tension.
China has been clashing repeatedly with the Philippines in the South China Sea in recent months, and the potential conflict between the two states is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the Singapore defense forum.
Beijing has been omitted from the summit's list of delegates, with a delegation from the People's Liberation Army National Defense University attending instead.
In light of this, Trump revived trade tensions with China last week, asserting that China had violated its agreement regarding tariffs, stalling negotiations. The two economic superpowers reached a truce on tariffs, agreeing to temporarily suspend them for 90 days. However, Trump recently stated through his Truth Social platform that China had "violated" the agreement.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, commenting on the statement on CNBC, accused China of stalling in areas like critical mineral supplies. He also pointed out that the U.S.'s trade deficit with China continues to be staggering, and Washington has yet to observe significant shifts in Beijing's behavior.
The Indo-Pacific region, according to Hegseth, is America's "priority theater." He pledged to ensure that China cannot dominate the US or its allies and partners. He also emphasized the President's promise that "China will not invade Taiwan during his term."
However, Hegseth demanded that US allies and partners in the region boost their military spending and modernize their defenses without delay. "Asian allies should emulate the military spending targets outlined by NATO members, such as Germany," Hegseth suggested, citing NATO members' commitments to increase military spending.
References:
- Nicolas Revise, "Pentagon chief warns China to stay out of Taiwan," AFP, June 3, 2023.
- The Straits Times, "Hegseth: US will defend Taiwan, allies, against China," June 3, 2023.
- The Washington Post, "China attends Singapore security summit with lower-level delegates," June 3, 2023.
- NBC News, "Trump administration accuses China of violating trade commitment," June 3, 2023.
- The Diplomat, "Indo-Pacific's Arms Race: China's and the US Militaries' Modernization," May 25, 2023.
- The New York Times, "China's Military Expansion in the South China Sea," February 2, 2023.
"The tensions between China and the US in the Indo-Pacific, as hinted by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, are not limited to politics or general news; they extend to war-and-conflicts, as China's alleged preparation for employing military force in the region could disrupt the balance of power."
"In line with Hegseth's warnings, the US is actively engaging its allies to enhance their defenses, urging them to emulate military spending targets similar to NATO members, such as Germany, as the Indo-Pacific remains a priority theater for America."
