Metro Manila, Philippines – China has issued a sharp and immediate rebuke to United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following his stark warning that Beijing poses a real and potentially imminent threat to peace in the Indo-Pacific, particularly over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, Hegseth accused China of seeking to dominate Asia through coercion, military intimidation, and hybrid warfare, warning that the Chinese military is actively preparing for a potential invasion of Taiwan.
“The threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific,” said Hegseth.
“We will not be pushed out of this critical region. And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated,” he added.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks as “provocative” and “defamatory,” saying Hegseth’s comments were intended to stoke bloc confrontation and instability.
“Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the US,” the ministry said.
Beijing accused the US of being the true destabilizing force in the Asia-Pacific, citing its deployment of offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and efforts to rally allies into an anti-China coalition under the so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy.”
“No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power more than the US itself. It is the US who is the primary factor that is hurting the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the statement added.
Hegseth described China as increasingly aggressive, citing cyberattacks, militarization of disputed territories, and harassment of neighboring countries.
“In the South China Sea, China harasses its neighbors… We’ve all seen the water cannons, ship collisions, and illegal boardings,” he said. “Any unilateral attempt to change the status quo… by force or coercion is unacceptable.”
On Taiwan, Hegseth reiterated longstanding concerns, citing public statements by US intelligence and military officials that Chinese President Xi Jinping has set 2027 as a target for the People’s Liberation Army to be capable of invading the island.
“The PLA is building the military needed to do it. Training for it every day. And rehearsing for the real deal. Any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,” Hegseth warned.
China responded by warning Washington against using Taiwan as “leverage” and said the matter is “entirely China’s internal affair.” It called on the US to stop emboldening “Taiwan independence” forces and abide by the one-China principle.
Hegseth also warned Asian countries about deepening economic ties with Beijing, saying China could use them as strategic leverage during times of tension.
“Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space,” he said.
China rejected that narrative as well, accusing the US of using fear to drive wedges between regional countries and sow instability.
“China urges the US to fully respect the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability, stop deliberately destroying the peaceful and stable environment cherished by the region, and stop inciting conflict and confrontation,” the ministry said.
