The USA's allies in the Pacific region can and should quickly upgrade their own defense, said Hegseth at the international defense conference Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which began on Friday.
Hegseth further stated that the USA will strengthen its commitments abroad to counter what the Pentagon sees as a growing threat from Beijing, particularly regarding China's aggressive stance towards Taiwan.
The threat posed by China is real and can be imminent, says Hegseth, and notes that China's military is building capabilities to invade Taiwan and "practicing for the real thing".
China's Foreign Ministry responds with a warning that the USA "should not play with fire", and calls the "Taiwan issue" an internal affair for China.
The government in Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China, but in practice, Taiwan has been self-governing and separate since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, when rival governments took over in Beijing and Taipei respectively.
China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan in recent years and is conducting military flights daily, which are perceived as provocations.
