Beijing: China has lodged a formal protest with the United States following what it described as inflammatory and divisive comments made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday, Beijing took issue with Hegseth's remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, accusing him of painting China as a regional threat and pushing a confrontational agenda.
The ministry criticized Hegseth for promoting a “Cold War mentality” and said his comments were aimed at fostering division in the Indo-Pacific. “Secretary Hegseth turned a blind eye to the widespread desire for peace and development across the region,” the statement said. “Instead, he chose to spread false accusations and portray China as a threat, fueling bloc confrontation.”
Beijing also condemned the United States for its continued military presence in the South China Sea, alleging that Washington’s deployment of offensive weapons is destabilizing the region. “These actions are transforming the Asia-Pacific into a powder keg,” the ministry warned.
During his speech, Hegseth urged Indo-Pacific allies, including Australia, to increase their defense spending in light of what he called a “real and potentially imminent” danger posed by China. In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed his country's defense commitments, citing an additional A$10 billion investment, but stressed that Australia would independently set its defense policies.
The tension also comes amid enhanced U.S.-Philippines military cooperation, which has included the deployment of Typhon missile systems capable of striking targets in China and Russia from the northern Philippine island of Luzon. This development further complicates the already tense territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Beijing reiterated its stern opposition to any U.S. involvement in Taiwan, warning Washington against “playing with fire” on the issue. Hegseth had warned that any attempt by China to seize Taiwan would carry “devastating consequences.”
China maintains that Taiwan is a part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. Taiwan's democratically elected government, however, has consistently rejected Beijing’s claims, asserting that the island’s future lies solely in the hands of its people.
