China has expressed strong objections to remarks made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, describing them as “vilifying.” According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, such comments overlook calls for peace from neighboring nations.
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Specifically, China’s ministry took issue with Mr. Hegseth labeling China as a threat in the Indo-Pacific region, subsequently deeming his statements at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore as “deplorable.” The ministry stated,
“Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development from countries in the region. Instead, he resorted to a Cold War mentality by advocating for bloc confrontation, vilifying China with unfounded accusations.”
In its statement, the ministry noted,
“The United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea, fueling tensions and transforming the Asia-Pacific into a volatile environment.”
Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang emphasized that
“China’s armed forces will work alongside other regional nations to oppose hegemonism that threatens the stability of the Asia-Pacific.”
Mr. Hegseth had called on allies in the Indo-Pacific, including essential security partner Australia, to increase defense spending, warning of the “real and potentially imminent” threat posed by China.
In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that his government has committed an additional A$10 billion (approximately €8.8 billion) to defense, stating,
“We will determine our defense policy based on the current global landscape.”
As part of a long-standing defense collaboration with the Philippines, the United States has deployed Typhon launchers capable of striking targets in both China and Russia from Luzon Island this year. This deployment occurs against a backdrop of territorial disputes between China and the Philippines over various islands and atolls in the South China Sea, leading to increased maritime confrontations.
China’s delegation at the Shangri-La Dialogue asserted that “external intervention” poses the greatest threat to stability in the South China Sea. They argued that China has exhibited “goodwill and restraint” in addressing the issue through dialogue. As Senior Colonel Zhang Chi of the PLA National Defense University remarked,
“Some foreign powers have sent warplanes and warships to the South China Sea under the guise of ‘freedom of navigation,’ infringing upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.”
The United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines have all participated in joint maritime operations within these crucial waters. Notably, China claims a vast majority of the South China Sea, including portions of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In a landmark ruling in 2016, an international arbitration tribunal deemed Beijing’s expansive claims to have no legal foundation.
Additionally, China’s foreign ministry has warned the U.S. to “avoid playing with fire” concerning Taiwan. In his speech at Asia’s leading forum for defense leaders, Mr. Hegseth noted that any attempts by China to dominate Taiwan would lead to “devastating consequences.” China’s leadership has reiterated its commitment to “reunification” with the self-governing island, asserting that this could involve force if necessary. Taiwan’s government, however, firmly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, stating that only the island’s residents can determine their future.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
