US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that China is "preparing" to use military force to shift the balance of power in Asia, pledging that the United States will stand by its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Agence France-Presse.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue Security Forum in Singapore, Hegseth said, "The threat posed by China is real and potentially imminent."

He noted that Beijing is "preparing for the potential use of military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region," warning that the Chinese military is building the capabilities to invade Taiwan and is "actively training" for such an invasion.

Hegseth emphasized that the United States is "reorienting itself to deter aggression from communist China," calling on its allies and partners in Asia to accelerate defense spending in the face of growing threats.