United States defence secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that China was preparing to use force to increase its dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.Speaking at the annual security forum, Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, Hegseth said that Beijing was “credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific”.“The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent,” Hegseth said, adding that Beijing “hopes to dominate and control” Asia.Hegseth further warned about China’s potential invasion of Taiwan, for which he said the Chinese forces were building capability, training every day, and “rehearsing for the real deal”. China also has a stated goal of taking over Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027.He also raised concerns about China’s growing presence in Latin America, especially its efforts to expand influence over the Panama Canal.

The Pentagon chief urged the US allies, particularly partners in Asia, to step up defence spending owing to the threat posed by Beijing.Citing pledges by Nato members including Germany to move toward US president Donald Trump’s spending target of five percent of GDP, Hegseth said, ” “It’s hard to believe a little bit… that I’m saying this, but thanks to president Trump, Asian allies should look to countries in Europe for a newfound example.” “Deterrence doesn’t come on the cheap,” he added.The Pentagon chief said that the US stood by its allies and had stepped up cooperation with Japan and the Philippines, and a deep partnership with India. Hegseth also warned that countries trying to balance between US military support and Chinese economic investments are taking a significant gamble. “Beware of the leverage the Chinese Communist Party aims to gain through such entanglements,” he said. China typically sends its defence minister to this annual security conference. However, in what appeared to be a diplomatic snub to the United States, amid ongoing tensions over president Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies.