CNBC reported that bilateral trade negotiations between the United States and China stalled late last week amid growing tensions.

The news came one day before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned American allies in the Indo-Pacific region that they need to spend more on their own defense. 

Hegseth: China is "credibly preparing to use military force"

That's according to Breitbart, which cited a press release put out by the Department of Defense regarding Hegseth's remarks at a Singaporean security summit on Saturday.

"We do not seek conflict with communist China," the Defense Secretary told those gathered at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue.

Hegseth Asks Indo-Pacific Allies to Step Up Defense Spending in Light of Strategic China Threats https://t.co/dVRc25D1pP

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"But we will not be pushed out of this critical region and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated," Hegseth stressed.

The Trump administration official further cautioned that "credibly preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific."

Defense secretary calls on allies to act with "urgency and vigilance"

"There's no reason to sugarcoat it: the threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," Hegseth declared before adding that the U.S. and its allies in the region must be prepared with "urgency and vigilance."

"If deterrence fails — and if called upon by [the] commander in chief — we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best: to fight and win, decisively," Hegseth asserted.

"Across the board, the United States, our allies and our partners have made great progress in these — and many other — areas toward achieving peace through strength," he acknowledged.

"But we have to do this quickly, and we have no time to waste," Hegseth urged, pointing out that the threat posed by China will not wait while adding, "And nor can we,"

China says the U.S. is a threat to "regional peace and stability"

Reuters noted how for its part, China denounced Hegseth’s comments in a social media post, saying that they were "steeped in provocations and instigation."

"Mr. Hegseth repeatedly smeared and attacked China and relentlessly played up the so-called 'China threat,'" China's Singaporean embassy wrote on its Facebook page. "As a matter of fact, the U.S. itself is the biggest 'troublemaker' for regional peace and stability."

Meanwhile, Breitbart reported on Friday that President Donald Trump is moving to increase arms sales to Taiwan, with the figure potentially exceeding $18 billion.