US Warns Allies of China Threat Over Taiwan

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that China's military threat to Taiwan is real and imminent, cautioning that any move by Beijing to seize Taiwan would have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. security commitments to regional allies but urged Indo-Pacific nations, especially Australia, to increase defense spending, citing European allies' recent budget hikes as an example. He also discussed the AUKUS submarine initiative and called for higher U.S. submarine production rates. Hegseth's statements reflected the Trump administration's policy of peace through strength and greater burden-sharing among allies. While underscoring China's military buildup and maneuvers near Taiwan, he avoided outlining specific U.S. responses to potential conflict. The warnings led to increased concerns among smaller Asian nations about being forced to choose sides in the escalating U.S.-China rivalry.