U.S. defense chief: Beijing undecided on Taiwan invasion, drills suggest intent

Washington, June 11 (CNA) U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday at a Senate hearing that while he believes China has not yet decided whether to invade Taiwan, its military exercises suggest such intent.

"We don't believe they've [China] made that decision yet, but certainly if you look at their exercises that they're performing in that area, they look a lot like … what that would look like," he said when asked to comment on the issue by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Asked by Graham whether he thinks Beijing intends to take Taiwan by force, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, who testified alongside Hegseth before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, said the U.S. must be prepared either way.

"I think if they could get their way, for sure. Do I think they're going to use military capability? Maybe, maybe not. Do we need to be prepared for that? Yes," he said.

In response, Graham urged deterrence and increased defense spending, warning that inaction could embolden adversaries like Iran, China and Russia.

"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon because they'll use it, they're homicidal maniacs who are religious Nazis. China is an expansionist power who will take Taiwan if we don't deter them. Russia will dismember Ukraine and keep going if we don't stop them," he said.

The two made their remarks during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the Defense Department's proposed fiscal 2026 budget.