Pentagon chief warns of imminent China threat, pushes Asian allies to boost defence spending


US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaking at the first plenary session on United States' new ambitions for Indo-Pacific security at Shangri-la Dialogue 2025 on May 31. - Photo: ST

SINGAPORE: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday (May 31) that the threat from China was real and potentially imminent as he pushed allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defence needs.

Hegseth, speaking for the first time at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, underlined that the Indo-Pacific region was a priority for the Trump administration.

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