Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning about China’s military intentions toward Taiwan, stating that any attack on the island democracy would have catastrophic consequences.

“Let me be clear: Any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,” Hegseth told an annual conference of defense leaders Saturday in Singapore.

“We are not going to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the People’s Liberation Army to be prepared for an assault on Taiwan by 2027, claiming the island as Chinese territory, Hegseth said.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defense and military leaders, Hegseth emphasized that President Trump has made it clear China will not launch a military invasion of Taiwan while he is in office. The U.S. defense secretary’s remarks mark the strongest indication yet that the Trump administration is prepared to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

His comments come amid heightened Chinese military activity in the South China Sea near the Philippines, around Taiwan, and farther north near Japan and South Korea—all critical U.S. allies in the region.

Hegseth warned that China’s “massive military build-up and growing willingness to use military force” signal its ambition to become the dominant power in Asia and exert control over the entire region. He pointed out that Beijing continues to claim roughly 90% of the strategic South China Sea, despite an international tribunal ruling the claim illegitimate.

The South China Sea, through which an estimated $5 trillion in global trade passes annually, has seen growing Chinese militarization over the past decade, including the reclamation of disputed islands and the deployment of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems.

In a notable shift, China did not send its defense minister—or even a senior general or admiral—to this year’s Singapore meeting, signaling a growing reluctance by the Chinese military to engage with regional defense and military leaders.

Hegseth emphasized that the United States is not seeking conflict with communist China. “But we will not be pushed out of this critical region,” he said. “And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated.” He added: “Nobody knows what China will ultimately do. But they are preparing. And we must, therefore, be ready as well. Urgency and vigilance is our only option.”