China is a world leader in hypersonic weapons, possessing at least four operational systems that pose a significant threat to the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific. -Key platforms include the road-mobile DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV),

While the U.S. remains a “very important” strategic partner, the Beijing-claimed island “fully recognizes” the need to strengthen its defense capabilities, a Defense Ministry official said.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned of China posing an "imminent" threat to Taiwan, while urging Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war.

American and Taiwanese officials have estimated China will be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027 after rapidly modernizing its military over the past two decades.

Hegseth focused his warning on Beijing’s stance toward Taiwan, making the stakes clear for the broader region. “To be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,” he said.

Unlike his predecessor, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth name-dropped China in his speech to the same security conference multiple times, as if to shame the Asian superpower for running roughshod over the so-called rules-based international order.

The U.S. would be wise to refrain from overestimating China’s military capability and underestimating the capability of America’s allies in the Pacific.

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"We are in a new era of asset vulnerability," said John Hemmings, the Council on Geostrategy's deputy director for geopolitics.