China may use military to change balance in Indo-Pacific, warns Pentagon

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Singapore: The United States has warned that China can soon use its army to change the balance of power in the Pacific region. Beijing is forming its armed forces and conducting exercises that show that it could potentially be ready to take action against Taiwan, said a senior US defense official.

The warning came when tensions between the two countries related to trade, technology and influence in Asia increase.

US Secretary of Defense Pat Hegsith said at the annual security forum in Singapore on Saturday, because US President Donald Trump’s administration has helped Beijing on trade, technology, and its influence on the world’s strategic corners.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry blasted the speech, saying it had “strongly represented the US team” on the comments of Hagsit and had taken a special exception to his comments about Taiwan.

Trump has begun a trade war with China since taking office with China in January, seeking to stop its access to key AI technologies with allies like the Philippines and deepen security relations, which is engaged in expanding regional conflicts with Beijing.

“The danger that China is real is real and it can come closer,” Hegsit said in the Shingri la dialogue.

He said Beijing “India is preparing to use military force to change the balance of power in the Pacific”.

Hegsit warned that the Chinese army was building the capabilities of attacking Taiwan and “real agreement”.

China has promoted military pressure on Taiwan and conducted widespread exercises around the self -government democratic island, which is often described as preparations for blockade or attack.

Hegsit said that the United States was “steadily stopping the aggression by the Communist China”, Hagsit said, “US allies and partners in Asia were demanded to upgrade their defense in a world of growing threats.”

In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry said: “The United States should not try to use the Taiwan issue as a bargain to overcome China and should not play with fire.”

‘Stir in anxiety’

Hegsith described China’s behavior as a “wake -up call”, accusing Beijing of accusing him of cyber -attacks, harassing his neighbors, and “illegally occupying and military land” in the controversial South China.

Beijing claims that almost Almost’s entire waterway, through which more than 60 % of global maritime trade passes through, despite its international decision that its claim has no ability.

According to US officials, in recent months, strategic water has repeatedly resulted in the Philippines, which dominates talks at the Flash Point Singapore Forum.

When Hegsith spoke in Singapore, the Chinese army announced that its Navy and Air Force are following the usual “patrols of war preparation” around Scarburro Shawal, a series of rocks and rocks with the Philippines.

Beijing did not send any top officials of the Ministry of Defense to the summit, and instead sent a delegation of the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University under the leadership of Rear Admiral Gangfing.

Without mentioning hegset by the name, Ho said of his speech, “These steps are primarily about giving rise to anxiety, distributing distribution, provoking confrontation and destabilizing Asia Pacific”.

Hagsith’s comments came when Trump gave rise to a new trade tension with China, and argued that Beijing had “violated” the agreement to eliminate revenue after a deadlock in the negotiations was shown.

The two largest economies in the world agreed to temporarily reduce eye -giving prices that they had imposed on each other, staying for 90 days.

‘Can’t achieve dominance’

Assuring the US allies on Saturday, Hegsit said that the Asia-Pacific territory was the “priority theater of the United States”, which promised to ensure that “China cannot dominate us-or our allies and partners.”

He said the United States has increased cooperation with allies, including the Philippines and Japan, and reaffirmed Trump’s pledge that “China will not attack its watch (Taiwan)”.

However, he called on US partners in the region to spend on their militants and “quickly upgrade their defense”.

“Asian allies should look to European countries for a new example,” Hegsit said, citing the promises of NATO members, including Germany.

“Deturns doesn’t come cheap.”