Hegseth says Chinese military action against Taiwan ‘could be imminent’

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US Defense Secretary, Pitt Hegsheth, warned that a Chinese military attack on Taiwan could “be imminent” because he called for Indo-Pacific’s American allies to increase defense expenses as a further resistance to Beijing.

IISS Shangri-La conversation spoke on the Defense Forum on Saturday in Singapore, Hegesth It was said that China wanted to be a hejmonic power in Asia and was acting in a way that should be an emergency “awakening call”.

“Any attempt to conquer the Communist China’s Taiwan can cause destructive consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,” he said.

“It has no reason to sugarcot. The threat that China has broken is real. And it may be imminent. We don’t expect, but it must be.”

US intelligence officials and military officials say that the president Xi Jinping The Chinese military has called for the development of Taiwan’s ability to invade by 2027. However, they were gradually worried about China’s rapid military growth, but most officials emphasized that the attack was not imminent.

In his second trip to Asia as the Secretary of Defense, Hegsheth said that the US allies and partners in the region should follow the “new example” of Europe Increase the cost of defense“Time is the essence”.

“It is not understood for European countries when the main allies of Asia spend less on defense in the face of more severe threats [from China]Not to mention North Korea. “

Hegastath said that a strategic benefit in the United States is its allies’ network, but they needed further investment. Indo-Pacific American allies should quickly upgrade their own defense, he said.

He also added that no one should doubt US commitment to his allies in the Indo-Pacific region. “We’ll find new ways to keep our arms around and work together around our friends.”

Hegsth says US President Donald Trump was committed to “achieve peace through power”. He said that the “priority theater” in the United States began with the invasion of Indo-Pacific.

When he accused Joe Biden weaken the United States, he seemed to be the continuation of the policies introduced by many former president of the Asia-centric military initiative.

In his first big speech as the Secretary of Defense, Hegsheth said that America was not “looking for conflict” with China but “would not allow our allies and partners to be subjected to.”

He said that China was using its cyber power to attack the United States and beyond the attack on critical infrastructure and harassing its neighbors, including Taiwan in the South China Sea.

“Shi has instructed his military to be ready to attack Taiwan by 20227. The [People’s Liberation Army] The military forces needed to do this, are training for it every day, and for the original agreement. “

Hegsheth, under threat from China, said that many countries “were tempted by the idea of ​​finding both economic cooperation with China and the United States of defense with the United States.”

However, he cautioned that economic dependence on China “complicated our decision of our decision during tension or conflict”.

President Emmanuel Macron told the Forum that Hegsath was talking to the next day between Asia and Europe’s countries needed to form a “coalition” between the United States and China.

Not like the recent years, China has not sent it Defense Minister In the forum. Surveled on US commitment to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Hegastath said: “We are here this morning and no one else” in the context of the absence of Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong June “.