Singapore: In response to China’s increasing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, the United States has warned that Beijing is really getting ready to use force to shift the balance of power in the area, with Taiwan at the core of its plans.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly said that the Chinese military is “rehearsing for the real deal” and developing the capacity to attack Taiwan, according to a report by the Eurasian Times. He declared that the United States will continue to discourage communist China’s aggressiveness and that it was “here to stay” in the Indo-Pacific area.

According to the Eurasian Times, China has increased extensive military exercises surrounding the island, which US officials characterize as preparations for an invasion or blockade, and has pledged to unite Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Hegseth’s comments coincide with growing commercial, technological, and geopolitical influence issues between the US and China. Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has increased military cooperation with allies like the Philippines, which is involved in territorial conflicts with China in the South China Sea; limited Beijing’s access to critical artificial intelligence technology; and initiated a trade war with China.

In the South China Sea, where more than 60% of the world’s marine traffic flows, Hegseth accused China of unlawfully militarizing disputed territory, intimidating neighboring nations, and putting lives at risk via hacking, according to the Eurasian Times. China’s broad territorial claims in these seas have been declared illegal by an international tribunal.

The Eurasian Times pointed out that Beijing sent representatives from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University to the conference instead of senior defense officials, despite the mounting concerns.
Discussions during the summit, according to US sources, would probably center on China’s escalating pressure on Taiwan and its aggressiveness in the South China Sea.