U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned China is rehearsing for a potential invasion of Taiwan during a defense forum over the weekend, prompting a response from Chinese officials.

After US military allies in Europe were torched by Vice President JD Vance in March over military spending, free speech and the war in Ukraine, America’s partners in Asia warily awaited Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrival at a security conference in Singapore.

The Pentagon chief's plan to “re-establish deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific raised questions about the subtext. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

China accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of espousing a “Cold War mentality” in a speech “filled with provocations” in Singapore on Saturday. “Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace

China has protested to the United States against "vilifying" remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, while accusing it of deliberately ignoring calls for peace from regional nations.

In a world rattled by President Trump’s tariffs and his scorn for Western allies, the defense secretary struck a rare note of continuity on security partnerships.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, tasked with reassuring regional defense officials that the U.S. remains a reliable partner.

The drama of Hegseth’s remarks, though, likely won’t be as intense as it could be, as he’ll be unable to look at China’s defense minister, Dong Jun,