The Voice News :China has issued a strong warning to the United States, urging it not to “play with fire” over the Taiwan issue after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled China a regional threat at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Hegseth accused China of preparing for military action that could alter Asia’s balance of power and claimed Beijing was rehearsing a potential invasion of Taiwan. In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the remarks and reiterated that Taiwan is a domestic matter, stressing that any foreign interference could turn the region into a “powder keg.”
“The US should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China,” the ministry warned.
Beijing criticized Hegseth for promoting a “Cold War mentality” and using inflammatory rhetoric. It said Washington was undermining regional peace by deploying offensive weapons and encouraging bloc confrontation. China also filed a formal diplomatic protest.
In his speech, Hegseth urged allies, including Australia, to boost defense spending amid what he described as a “real and potentially imminent” threat from China.
Tensions remain high between the two global powers amid an ongoing trade war and disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea. China and the Philippines also continue to face maritime conflicts over contested territories in the region.
This year, China did not send its defense minister to the Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time since 2019 (excluding COVID-19 years), instead opting for lower-level representatives.
Beijing rejected US accusations of threatening maritime navigation, asserting that it supports dialogue and adheres to international law. It concluded that the US is the primary destabilizing force in the South China Sea.