US urges to prepare for worst-case scenario

According to Hegset, China intends to become a hegemon in Asia and is already taking dangerous steps along the way.

The US Defense Secretary called on the world to take his statement as an urgent "wake-up call."

He also warned that any attempt by the PRC to seize Taiwan would have devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

"There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat posed by China is real, and it could be imminent. We hope not, but it certainly could be," Hegset said.

He also stressed that US allies in the Indo-Pacific region should follow Europe's "new example" by committing to increasing defense spending because "time is of the essence."

It makes no sense for European countries to do this while key allies in Asia are spending less on defense in the face of an even greater threat.