The assessment is a major departure for the U.S. government, and it came with a nudge that nations must choose between Washington and Beijing.

Sean Parnell promised that, under Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon would be “the most transparent in history.”Instead, it's well on its way to being the most opaque.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday delivered a dire warning to the Asia-Pacific region and the world: China’s designs on Taiwan pose a threat to global peace and stability that requires “our allies and partners do their part on defense.

In a world rattled by President Trump’s tariffs and his scorn for Western allies, the defense secretary struck a rare note of continuity on security partnerships.

China has a stated goal of having its military have the capability to take Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027.

The drama of Hegseth’s remarks, though, likely won’t be as intense as it could be, as he’ll be unable to look at China’s defense minister, Dong Jun,

Pete Hegseth left some U.S. allies out to dry when he declared Israel, Poland, and the Gulf and Baltic states as "model allies."

At the Pentagon, personality conflicts persist and inexperience reigns, fueling speculation about Pete Hegseth’s long-term viability in Trump’s Cabinet.