U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Saturday of the imminent and “real” threat posed by China to democratic Taiwan, urging Washington’s regional allies and partners to ramp up defense spending — possibly to as high as 5% of gross domestic product.
“Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo Pacific,” Hegseth said in a speech before a packed house as defense chiefs, military brass and senior diplomats gathered in Singapore for Asia’s premier regional security conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue.
“We cannot look away and we cannot ignore it. China’s behavior toward its neighbors and the world is a wake up call and an urgent one,” he added, pointing to what he said were “destabilizing actions” in the disputed South China Sea and elsewhere.
