Higseth warns of China an imminent threat to Taiwan and urges Asia to strengthen defense

US Defense Secretary Beit Higseth warned against China as an “imminent” threat to Taiwan, while urging Asian countries to enhance defense spending and work with the United States to deter the war.

Although the United States does not “seek to control or strangle China,” it will not be removed from Asia and does not allow allies to intimidate, and Higseth said while addressing the high -level Asian defense summit.

In response, China accused the United States of being “the largest rioters” for regional peace.

Many people in Asia fear possible instability if China invaded Taiwan, a self -governmental island claimed by Beijing. China did not rule out the use of strength.

Speaking in the Shangri-La interview in Singapore, Higseth described China as seeking to become the “power of hegemony” that “hopes to control very many parts” of Asia. China clashed with many neighbors due to the competing regional claims in the South China Sea.

He said that Beijing was “preparing for the use of potential military force to change the balance of power” in Asia, and pointed to the date of 2027, which was claimed that President Xi Jinping gave the Chinese army to be able to invade Taiwan.

This is the date that American officials and generals have made for years, but it has not been confirmed by Beijing.

Higseth said that China “adopts the necessary army to do so and training on that, every day and trains the real deal.”

“Let me be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force will lead to severe consequences on the Indian Pacific Ocean and the world. There is no reason to overcome sugar. The threat that China poses is real. It may be imminent. We hope but it can certainly be.”

Higseth added that the United States does not seek war or conflict with China.

“We do not seek to control or strangle China, to surround or provoke. We are not looking to change the system … but we must ensure that China cannot dominate us or our allies and partners,” he said, adding, “We will not be expelled from this critical area.”

In response, the Chinese embassy in Singapore posted a memo on its Facebook page, saying that the speech was “steeped in provocations and incitement” and said Higseth “has slowed and repeatedly in China and attacked China and played unabated” the threat of China. “

He added: “In fact, the United States itself is the largest” stimuli of peace “for regional peace and stability. An example that was cited “the deployment of offensive weapons” in the South China Sea and a survey of what the embassy called “Chinese Islands and Coral Reefs”.

“What the United States is now providing to the world is” uncertainty, “the embassy said. We have heard that. Let’s see what he will move. “

The strong speech in China came when it deliberately reduces its presence in the dialogue.

The Shangri-La dialogue was a platform for the United States and China to make their stadiums to the Asian countries as the great powers compete for influence.

But while the United States sent this year one of its largest delegations ever, China has sent a team lower than the lower level and delivered its planned speech on Sunday. No explanation has been provided for this purpose.

To prevent war, the United States wants a “strong shield to deter” forged with the allies, said Higseth, who promised the United States, “They continue to wrap our arms around our friends and find new ways to work together.”

But he stressed that “deterrence does not come cheap” and urged Asian countries to increase their defensive spending, pointing to Europe as an example.

US President Donald Trump called on NATO Western allies to spend more on defense, at least 5 % of their gross domestic product – an approach called Higseth “cruel love, but love with that.” Some countries, including Estonia, moved quickly to do so, while others like Germany indicated openness to compliance.

“How can it be logical for countries in Europe to do so while the major allies and partners in Asia are spending less in the face of more enormous threat?” He said, with a reference to China, adding that North Korea was also a threat.

“Europe ascends. The United States in the Hindu and the Pacific region can follow up, by quickly upgrading their defenses,” he said that they should be “partners, not the Almighty” over the United States.

He reached American military devices and also pointed to a new partnership of India and the Pacific Ocean for defense industrial flexibility. Its first project is to create a radar repair center in Australia for an American naval plane purchased by the allies, and to help the production of drones in the region.

The Asian countries also warned against searching for economic relations with China, saying that Beijing will use it as a “financial lever” to deepen its “malicious influence”, which complicates US defense decisions.

Higseth’s speech came a day after the stadium of French President Emmanuel Macron in the same dialogue for Europe to be the Asian ally as well.

I answer a question about Macron’s proposal, he said that the United States “is very preferred to be the tremendous balance of European investment on that continent” so that the United States can use its “relative advantage” in the Indian Pacific Ocean.

China’s response criticized the US approach to Europe. “Since the American commitment to its European allies is to urge the latter to spend more self -defense, what will be his commitment to others?” Read the statement.

“The United States continues to expand its already amazing defense expenses. Will the expanded part of the definitions it imposes on other countries come?” He added, referring to the Trump’s global tariff that rocked the global economic system and caused anxiety among the United States’ allies.

Higseth also sold Trump’s vision of “sound sense” in dealing with the rest of the world, as “America does not have or strive for permanent enemies.”

The US President compared the late Singaporean man Lee Kwan Yu, who was famous for his pragmatic international in foreign relations.

“The United States is not interested in the moral approach and preaching towards the foreign policy of the past. We are not here to pressure other countries to adopt and adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues. We are not here to impose our will on you.”

It was an approach that the Senator criticized the Democratic Party, Tami Dakrith, who was part of the American delegation in Singapore.

Separately speaking to reporters in the dialogue, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that Higseth and Trump’s vision “do not agree with the values ​​of our nation.”

“They know what we are defending, we defend basic human rights, and we defend the law and the international order. This is what we will continue,” others said.

Duckworth also takes a comprehensive HegSeth message to the allies in the region, describing it as “care”.

“His idea we shall be around you – we do not need this type of language. We need to stand with our allies, and work together, and we send a message that America does not ask people to choose between the People’s Republic of China (the People’s Republic of China) and the United States.”

Other members of the delegation, Republican representatives, Brian Mast, and John Molinaar, told the BBC that the speech sent a clear message about the threat of China and welcomed by many Asian countries, according to the meetings he held with officials.

“The message I heard is that people want to see freedom of movement and respect for neighbors, but they feel fear of some of the aggressive measures that China has shown,” said Molinaar, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the competition between us and China.

“So the presence of the United States is welcome and encouraged. The message was to continue to attend.”

Ian Chung, a non -resident researcher in Carnegie China, said Asian governments will reassure the United States’ commitment to the current situation.

He said that Higseth’s call to increase the defense spending was “somewhat standard for the United States these days,” adding that although it was a “permanent issue” between American and Asian allies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which dates back to decades, the Trump administration is more disturbing and requires more.

“I think Asian governments will listen – but to what extent will they comply a different story,” said Dr. Chung.