China has strongly protested against US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent remarks, accusing him of spreading division and pushing a Cold War mentality during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described his comments as “deplorable” and claimed they ignored regional efforts for peace and stability.
Beijing objected to Hegseth labeling China as a “threat” in the Indo-Pacific and blamed the United States for increasing tensions in the South China Sea by deploying offensive weapons and conducting provocative military activities. China said such actions are turning the region into a dangerous flashpoint.
In a statement, China’s Defence Ministry echoed the criticism, accusing the US of using the forum to “stoke disputes, sow discord, and seek selfish interests.” Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang added that China’s military would continue working with regional countries to resist “hegemonism” and protect peace in the Asia-Pacific.
Meanwhile, Hegseth had urged US allies, including Australia, to boost their defence spending in response to what he called a “real and potentially imminent” threat from China. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded by highlighting a recent A$10 billion defence investment, stating, “We’ll determine our defence policy ourselves.”
As tensions in the South China Sea rise, China claimed that “external intervention” remains the biggest risk to regional stability. It accused foreign powers of violating its sovereignty by sending warships and aircraft under the pretext of freedom of navigation.
The row also touched on Taiwan, with Hegseth warning that any attempt by China to take the island by force would have “devastating consequences.” China reacted by urging the US to stop “playing with fire,” maintaining its vow to reunify with Taiwan, which remains self-governed and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.