Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday in Singapore attempted to woo Asian defense leaders to Washington’s side as he warned of the “imminent” threat China poses to the Indo-Pacific region.

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.

China will not send its defense minister to this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, shunning a chance to meet his US and Asian counterparts as tensions simmer with Washington.

China deployed fleets larger than usual near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas.

China has denounced U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for calling the Asian country a threat, accusing him of touting a Cold War mentality

The US Secretary of Defense pointed out at the major Asia-Pacific military forum that the threat from China is real, while urging its allies in the region to increase their defense spending. During the exchange of attacks in May between India and Pakistan,

Asked why China’s defence minister skipped this year’s event, Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng said it sends delegations of different levels each year and this should be seen as “part of normal operational arrangements”.

In his opening remarks, Hegseth warned China seeks no less than hegemony over the region and is increasingly willing to resort to force. He cited confrontations in the South China Sea, including incidents in which China's coast guard used water cannon against Philippine vessels, injuring several people last year.