Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a forceful declaration of U.S. commitment to Taiwan's defense Saturday, warning of "devastating consequences" should China attempt to conquer the self-governed island by force.

My job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf.”

In what was his most assertive statement to date on Taiwan, Hegseth issued a stark warning that threats to the island from China “could be imminent.” Hegseth said that the U.S

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying that the threat of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan “could be imminent.” It comes as NBC News got rare access to Taiwan’s preparations for a possible conflict with Beijing.

Hegseth issued his starkest warning yet over China's military ambitions, telling allies that Beijing’s threat to Taiwan is “real” and potentially “imminent.” The post Pete Hegseth Warns Chinese Invasion of Taiwan May Be ‘Imminent’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Pete Hegseth warns Chinese invasion of Taiwan could be ‘imminent’ - China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade would look like of the self-governing island

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.

Pete Hegseth reaffirmed in a speech in Singapore that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China, but to deter China the U.S. "is preparing for war, to deter war."