US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has suggested that China may be preparing to launch a military operation against Taiwan by 2027. He made the remarks during the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum held in Singapore.
Hegseth stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to be ready for such an operation. “The PLA is developing the necessary capabilities at great speed. It trains daily and is preparing for this scenario,” he said.
While outlining the threat, Hegseth stressed that the United States does not seek war with China. “We are not aiming to provoke, isolate or change China’s leadership. Our objective is peace. But we must ensure that neither the US nor its allies are dominated,” he said.
Call for increased defence spending
Hegseth criticised Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea, accusing it of pressuring neighbouring countries. He said that any attempt to change the status quo by force or intimidation would be unacceptable. Washington, he added, is monitoring the situation closely.
He urged both Asian and European allies to increase their defence spending. “We must ensure our investments match the risks we face today,” he said.
The Secretary of Defence also spoke about the US military budget. He mentioned that President Donald Trump had proposed more than $1 trillion in spending for the next year. This includes the development of new technologies such as the F-47 fighter jet, the B-21 stealth bomber, and advanced submarines and destroyers.
As part of regional cooperation, Hegseth announced a new initiative under the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR). One of the first projects will establish a regional repair facility for P-8 radar aircraft in Australia. This will allow countries like New Zealand and South Korea to carry out maintenance locally, rather than relying solely on the United States.
