On Friday, U.S. Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La dialog Summit in Singapore.
In his speech, addressed to military and political leaders from all over the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth gave 1 of the strongest warnings by the US administration regarding China's ambition.
“They [China] do not exercise for PR. They're preparing for a real conflict. They train as they fight.”
The U.S. defence Secretary indicated that the threat to Taiwan is not only real, but besides imminent. As he stated, the Chinese army “are regular training for a real conflict”, and any effort to force Taiwan to “would have disastrous consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world”.
Hegseth called on allies in Asia to take decisive action, suggesting raising defence spending to 5% of GDP. He stressed that the US did not intend to impose on others its political system, but would consistently defend democratic states against Chinese aggression.
Taiwan as an inflammatory point for future conflict
Taiwan remains the centre of tension in the region. China regularly simulates the island's blockade, violates its airspace and organizes maneuvers around the Taiwan Strait. Beijing openly declares that Taiwan is simply a “internal substance of China” and does not exclude the usage of force for “unification”.
According to Hegseth and Pentagon analysts, China may decide to invade before 2027. “It is no longer a question of whether, but when,” said the secretary in the bullet talks. He warned that Beijing could act rapidly to advance the modernisation of US forces and strengthen their regional alliances.
However, it is not just Taiwan. Hegseth made it clear that the global credibility of the West is at stake:
“If we do not defend Taiwan, the full planet – Russia, Iran, North Korea – will consider that the West no longer has the will to fight.”
China’s increasing Military Power
China's authoritative defence budget for 2025 is $246 billion, an increase of 7.2%. Unofficial estimates, however, propose that actual expenditures can amount to as much as $400 billion, taking into account hidden expenditure, specified as cyber programs or space technologies.
China invests in a wide scope of modern weapons. In the first place, attention should be paid to YJ-21 hypersonic missiles, capable of moving at speeds above Mach 10 and precise hitting sea targets specified as aircraft carriers. According to Hegseth, specified weapons could disable an full group of American ships during the first minutes of the conflict. Another offensive system, DF-27, has a scope of over 5,000 km and may pose a threat to US military bases in Guam or Japan.
In the air, the advantage is to supply a fresh generation J-36 fighter, combining the features of stealth, hypersonic flight and command capabilities of combat unmanneds. Chinese aviation is besides investigating cooperation between pilot and AI on the battlefield, which increases tactical flexibility and consequence time.
China's Navy has been expanded to the largest fleet in the world. Modern kind 055 destroyers are considered to be the most advanced submarines in Asia, equipped with multi-purpose AESA radar systems, long-range maneuvering missiles and integrated electronic combat systems. The introduction of kind 054B frigates increased its ability to respond rapidly to coastal and ocean waters.
China is besides developing an arsenal of electromagnetic weapons. A railgun, capable of firing missiles at a velocity of over 7,000 km/h, has been presented publicly, making them an effective tool to neutralize ships and missiles. At the same time, work is underway on conflict lasers specified as “Silent Hunter”, which can disable air targets (drones, helicopters) over a distance of up to 4 kilometres, without the request for conventional ammunition.
Investment in autonomous combat systems is equally worrying. China is investigating drone swarms capable of coordinating without operator interference, supported by artificial intelligence. specified technologies can change the nature of future conflicts, eliminating the component of surprise and shortening the timing of tactical decisions to seconds.
Finally, the submarine is being expanded. fresh kind 096 ships will be equipped with ballistic missiles with the ability to carry atomic warheads. Their advanced operational silence and long stay underwater make them a serious threat to US rocket defence systems and their allies.
International reaction
The US strengthens military presence in the region. Cooperation with Japan, Australia and the Philippines is deepening. Hegseth calls on all Indo-Pacific countries:
“This cannot just be an American effort. Japan, Philippines, Korea – all these countries request to increase their defence spending and combat preparedness.”
It's not just about deterrence. According to Hegseth, readiness to fight is the key to maintaining peace:
“We do not want war – but if we do not want it, we must be ready to win it.”
Pete Hegseth's appearance in Singapore is an emergency signal. China is increasing stronger and does not hide their ambition. Taiwan is just the first target. The planet must decide if it is ready to stand up for global order before it is besides late.
