China has issued a sharp response to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following his warning about Beijing’s growing military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. In a statement released Sunday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the U.S. of inciting conflict and spreading a “Cold War mentality.”
The rebuke followed Hegseth’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, where he claimed that China poses a “real and potentially imminent threat,” accusing Beijing of attempting to dominate key parts of Asia and harassing Taiwan. He urged regional allies to bolster their defense capabilities, warning that China is “credibly preparing” to use military force to alter the balance of power.
“China seeks to intimidate you in your own waters,” Hegseth said. “We are not going to sugarcoat it—the threat China poses is real.”
China’s foreign ministry dismissed Hegseth’s comments, reiterating that Taiwan is an “internal affair” and accusing the U.S. of overstepping its role by interfering in regional matters. “No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself,” the ministry said. “The U.S. is the primary factor undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains that Taiwan, which operates under a separate, democratically elected government, is a breakaway province and has not ruled out military action to achieve what it calls “reunification.”
Despite not officially recognizing Taiwan diplomatically, the U.S. continues to support the island’s defense under existing legislation. Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. under President Donald Trump “does not seek war,” but remains prepared to defend its interests and those of its allies. “We seek peace,” Hegseth said. “But we must ensure that China cannot dominate us—or our allies and partners.”
The diplomatic clash comes amid mounting military tensions in the South China Sea and ongoing economic friction between the world’s two largest economies. The U.S. and China are locked in a prolonged trade dispute, and despite a recent agreement to reduce tariffs, progress has reportedly stalled.
Former President Trump escalated the rhetoric on Thursday, accusing China of violating trade agreements and claiming unrest in China due to U.S. tariffs. In response, China accused the U.S. of imposing discriminatory export controls, particularly in the semiconductor industry, and urged Washington to honor commitments made during recent trade talks in Geneva.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon weighed in during a forum in California, stating that while China remains a potential adversary, America’s greatest challenge lies within. “What I really worry about is us—our own values, our own management,” Dimon said.
