HegSeth Warning of Chinese threat as the best copper bejing Skip Singapore | Military news

Singapore -Among many military officials who were moving across the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore this week, there was a big absence.

Chinese Defense Secretary Dong John overcame the annual dialogue of the Angri La Security Forum for Asia, as Beijing sent a delegation of the lower association representatives instead.

This was the first time since 2019, as China did not send the Minister of Defense to a high-ranking dialogue on regional defense, except when the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19s.

Beijing’s decision sparked eyebrows in Singapore, coming in A. The time of growing tensions Between China and the United States – the two largest great powers in the world.

Dong’s absence meant that there was no face to face with his American counterpart, Defense Minister Beit Higseth, who had the word for himself on Saturday when he told the Defense Forum that the military threat posed by China was imminent.

“It should be clear to all that Beijing is preparing with credibility to use potential military power to change the balance of power in the Indian Pacific,” Higseth said to Singapore delegates.

Pointing to regular military training in China around Taiwan as well as increasingly frequently frequent skirmishes in the South China Sea, Higseth said that Beijing was bothering his neighbors proactively.

“There is no reason to use sugar,” he said. “The threat that China poses is real, and it may be imminent.”

He also referred to The growing military packages in China As a reason for the Asian countries to enhance their defensive spending, pointing to Germany, which pledged to move towards the spending of 5 percent of the total local products (GDP) on the defense.

“It is not logical for countries in Europe to do this, while the main allies in Asia are spending less on defense in the face of a more enormous threat,” said Higseth.

The defense head also looked at the reassurance of the Asian allies that Washington is committed to Asia and the Pacific Security despite the tense relations in recent months, as US President Donald Trump has targeted some of the close allies through the huge commercial tariffs.

“America is proud to return to the Indian Pacific Ocean, and we are here to stay,” he said.

Some analysts rushed to reduce the severity of Higseth’s warnings about China.

“Without very few countries, many people in this part of the world do not see that China pose an imminent threat and will be spent (defense),” said Dylan Luo, an assistant professor of public policy program at Nianiang Technological University at Nianang Technological University.

China is tightened in the absence of the head of defense

In previous years, the Shangri-La dialogue presented a rare platform for meetings between Chinese and American officials in the most formal surrounding areas that the summit could offer.

The structure of the schedule of military leaders in Beijing also allowed direct response to the main speech of the US Secretary of Defense and their novel to other members of the Asia Pacific region.

Beijing has been tight about the reason for the absence of Defense Minister Dong from the forum, which feeds the information vacuum that was filled with speculation.

One theory is that China does not want to send a high -level delegate to the event at a sensitive time Beijing moves in the war of tariffs With the Trump administration.

“Any type of PAS or comments that may get rid of the text can be taken, selected or misunderstood,” said Luo, of Nianang Technological University in Singapore.

“The question is why the risk when the relations between the United States and China are at a very sensitive point at this moment,” Luo told the island.

The weekend of the Shangri-La dialogue has not always been the easiest suitable for Chinese defense ministers. In recent years, they have faced difficult questions from their counterparts in other countries, not satisfied with the increase in Beijing’s confirmation in the Asia Pacific region.

Luo said this may be another factor in the absence of Dong from the prominent event.

He said: “Any Chinese defense minister coming to Singapore now will expose himself and the country to political dangers.” “Topics like the South China Sea and perhaps Taiwan will appear, making China a suitable target,” Luo added.

Dong Kamil’s Defense Minister was appointed in late 2023, after his predecessor, Lee Shangvvz, was removed from his position.

Less than a year after the job, there was speculation surrounding the new Dong position after media reports that it was under investigation as part of a wider corruption in the Chinese army. Beijing denied the reports, as the minister continued to maintain a general profile despite allegations.

There was also an intense army audit in China, after reports of a clear cleansing of the highest level officials by President Xi Jinping.

One of the senior generals in Beijing, Weidong, was missing from a high -level political meeting in April, adding rumors surrounding a possible restructuring in the Popular Liberation Army (PLA).

Ian Chung, a non -resident researcher at the Chinese Carnegie Research Center, said this speculation can be a factor in Dong not offered in Singapore.

“Because of the local turmoil with the Grand China army, they may not want it, or that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army itself feels that it is not in a position to send a big person,” Chung told the island of the island.

Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Chinese military, announced that Dong’s absence at a press conference before the summit is still open between Washington and Beijing defense officials.

“China puts great importance to US -Chinese military relations, and it is open to communication at different levels,” said Zhang.