Pete Hegseth: US will go to war to stop China from taking Taiwan
[Source]
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. would take military action to stop China from invading Taiwan, outlining a defense policy that shifts strategic focus from Europe to Asia to deter what he called 'an imminent threat' from Beijing.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday, Hegseth said the Trump administration is prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region as part of its effort to counter China's growing military influence.
Indo-Pacific defense pivot
'President Trump has said that Communist China will not invade Taiwan on his watch,' Hegseth said. 'So, our goal is to prevent war … and we will do this with a strong shield of deterrence … But if deterrence fails, and if called upon by my commander-in-chief, we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best – fight and win — decisively.
Trending on NextShark:
Hegseth accused China of building up military capabilities at high speed and training regularly for an invasion of Taiwan. He cited intelligence that President Xi Jinping has directed the People's Liberation Army to be ready for such an operation by 2027. He warned that any attempt to forcibly take Taiwan would have severe consequences for regional and global security.
China fires back
Chinese officials at the forum reiterated Beijing's position on Taiwan, emphasizing that any attempt to separate the island from China would be met with firm opposition. Rear Adm. Hu Gangfeng, vice president of China's National Defense University, dismissed U.S. accusations, calling them 'attempts to provoke trouble, incite division and stir up confrontation to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region.'
Trending on NextShark:
In a separate statement on Sunday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Hegseth's remarks had 'vilified China with defamatory allegations.' The ministry warned that the U.S. 'should not play with fire' on the Taiwan issue.
'Hegseth's remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow division. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S.,' the ministry said.
Defense spending
Trending on NextShark:
At the summit, Hegseth further called on Indo-Pacific allies to significantly increase their defense budgets, suggesting targets of up to 5% of GDP. He emphasized the need for regional militaries to match China's rapid modernization and deter potential aggression. He also warned against economic dependence on China, arguing it leaves countries vulnerable to coercion.
Citing NATO's defense spending benchmarks, Hegseth urged partners to follow suit in Asia. The U.S. has reportedly asked Australia to raise its defense budget to 3.5% of GDP. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded that Australia would determine its own course, pointing to a 10 billion Australian dollars ($6.46 billion) military investment and a target of 2.4% by 2033–34.
Trending on NextShark:
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community.
!
Trending on NextShark:
Download the NextShark App:
Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump isn't done with Musk yet, Michael Cohen says
President Trump's ex-personal attorney Michael Cohen on Saturday said that Trump isn't done with tech billionaire Elon Musk yet, after tensions between the two men became incredibly heated in a public social media spat last week. 'They're going to really go after Elon Musk like nobody has seen, ever, in this country, because they can,' Cohen told MSNBC's Ali Velshi. 'And one thing Elon doesn't understand is this political guerilla warfare that they're going to conduct against him,' he added. On Thursday, a fight between Musk and Trump over the president's 'big, beautiful bill' earlier in the week escalated rapidly on Musk's X platform and Trump's Truth Social platform. The president said the tech billionaire 'just went CRAZY!' and threatened Musk's government contracts. Musk alleged that Trump had ties to convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein on X. The public spat followed the end of Musk's recent service in the Trump administration and an alliance with the president that appeared to start off strong. Musk endorsed Trump in July 2024 in the wake of Trump surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Musk's administration service was marked by intense backlash from those on the left and Democrats over actions taken by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on the federal government. 'He doesn't care about Elon Musk,' Cohen said in his MSNBC appearance, talking about Trump. 'He used Elon Musk for what he needed. Initially it was the money, so that he didn't have to lay out any of his own, and also, more importantly, for his access with X.' The Hill has reached out to the White House and X for comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
16 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Newsom blasts Trump's arrest threat as ‘unmistakable step toward authoritarianism'
President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed the idea of arresting California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the state's resistance to federal immigration enforcement efforts in Los Angeles, intensifying a clash that has already drawn legal challenges and fierce rebukes from Democratic leaders. 'I would do it if I were Tom,' Trump said, referring to Tom Homan, his border czar, who over the weekend suggested that state and local officials, including Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, could face arrest if they interfered with immigration raids. 'I think it's great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing,' Trump added. Trump's remarks signal a sharp escalation in the administration's crackdown on sanctuary jurisdictions and a willingness to target political opponents in unprecedented ways. Newsom responded swiftly, calling Trump's words a chilling attack on American democratic norms. 'The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor,' Newsom wrote on X. 'This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.' Tensions escalated sharply after Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following days of civil unrest related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The deployment marked the first time a president has federalized a state's National Guard without the governor's consent since 1965. Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced plans to sue Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging the deployment was unlawful. 'Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President's authority under the law,' Bonta said at a press conference. 'There is no invasion. There is no rebellion.' Meanwhile, David Huerta, president of SEIU California, was charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer after his arrest during the L.A. protests. Despite the furor, legal experts note that Homan lacks the authority to arrest elected officials, and his role remains advisory. Still, Trump's rhetoric has raised alarms among critics who view his comments as part of a broader pattern of undermining democratic institutions. 'This is a preview of things to come,' Newsom warned in an interview with Brian Taylor Cohen that he shared on social media. 'This isn't about L.A., per se,' the Democratic governor added. 'It's about us today, it's about you, everyone watching tomorrow. This guy is unhinged. Trump is unhinged right now, and this is just another proof point of that.' At a news conference held by lawmakers in Sacramento to discuss the protests in Los Angeles, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, said Trump's threat to arrest Newsom is a 'direct assault on democracy and an insult to every Californian.'
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Musk's feud with Trump reveals one ugly truth about Tesla stock
You can catch Opening Bid on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. The very public spat that has erupted between Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and president Donald Trump has sent shares of the EV maker on a wild, wild ride. Shares are off by 15% over the last five sessions as investors fear Trump will take aim at Musk's various lines of business. Musk also being out of Trump's inner circle also runs counter to the bull thesis that circled Tesla's stock post election. But the dustup between the two powerbrokers brings to light a major problem for Tesla's stock as Musk tries to jumpstart a sagging EV business. There is a big disconnect between Tesla's valuation and what's happening underneath the surface. For example, Tesla's stock is up 12% since October 2022 – yet, consensus EPS estimates for 2025, 2026 and 2027 have plunged 77%, 70% and 71% since then according to new research from JP Morgan auto analyst Ryan Brinkman. Further, the stock is valued at a significant premium to the broader market despite Trump likely doing away with EV tax credits soon. The tax credit has been a driver of Tesla's sales and profits. EV subsidies represent about 52% of Tesla's current profits, Brinkman estimates. For full episodes of Opening Bid, listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on our website. Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid is produced by Langston Sessoms All right. Welcome to a new episode of The Opening Bid Podcast. I'm Yahoo! Finance executive editor, Brian Sozzi. And this is our stock of the day. Let's get a minute on that clock. Uh, of course, we're going to start with the Elon Musk feud with President Trump, continuing to unfold, has quieted down a little bit, but nonetheless, it's something to be following because it has impacted Tesla stock. Uh, shares are down by 15% over the last five sessions. Uh, of course, when the president, uh, won the presidency, there was this thought that Elon would help, uh, you know, his closeness or proximity to the president would help get auto taxis approved, and everybody would be using robots. Now that thesis has unwound, as Musk is clearly not in the Trump inner circle. But this is highlighted, uh, this feud has highlighted really two problems with Tesla stock. First, uh, the valuation of the stock versus reality. Uh, have to give a shout out to Ryan Brinkman at JP Morgan. Uh, he notes that, uh, Tesla stock is up 12% since October 22. Yet, consensus EPS estimates, I mean, these are shocking to clients, for 2025, next year and 2027 have plunged by 77%, 70%, and 71%, respectively. These are huge declines at a time where Tesla stock is still high. And the problem number two, as I mentioned, is in fact the valuation. Tesla stock valued about 140 times forward estimated earnings. Uh, the S&P 500 is about 22 times. And if President Trump rolls back those EV tax credits, like, uh, it is expected because of his big beautiful bill, um, Tesla could lose a lot of profits. Brinkman estimates EV subsidies represent about 52% of Tesla's core profits, uh, and theoretically, all those profits would go up in smoke. That's our stock of the day on The Opening Bid Podcast.
