China has issued a strong condemnation of the United States following comments made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who appeared to warn of potential military action to prevent Chinese dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry criticized Hegseth’s remarks as reflective of a ‘Cold War mentality’, asserting that they deliberately ignored regional calls for peace and development.
During a speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth emphasized that the Indo-Pacific region is the United States’ ‘priority theater’ and asserted that the U.S. would not allow China to push its allies from the area.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that Hegseth’s statements were filled with provocations aimed at sowing discord and labeled China as a ‘threat’ without basis.
China replied vehemently, stating, ‘No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself.’ This criticism underscores Beijing’s view of the U.S. as the instigator of tensions in the region.
The spokesperson further argued that the U.S. is utilizing its so-called ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ to deploy offensive weaponry in the South China Sea while exacerbating tensions and stoking conflict across the Asia-Pacific, rendering the region a ‘powder keg’ and causing distress among its nations.
Hegseth also claimed that China is ‘preparing to use military force’ to change the balance of power, suggesting that America would intervene to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
The historical context surrounding Taiwan adds layers to the statement. Following the Chinese Civil War in the early 20th century, the Republic of China lost to the Chinese Communist Party and retreated to Taiwan, which still maintains a separate government despite China’s assertion of sovereignty over the island.
China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has reiterated its resolve to reunite it with the mainland, using force if necessary. However, many supporters of Taiwan see it as an independent and sovereign state, distinct from mainland China, which has never ruled the island.
Tensions surrounding Taiwan have escalated in recent years, particularly following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in 2022, which provoked a military response from Beijing and increased military drills in the Taiwan Strait.
Former U.S. officials have even suggested that conflict could arise between the two powers, with some predictions that the U.S. and China could be at war by the end of 2023.
The current trajectory of U.S.-China relations has intensified further since President Biden took office in 2022, with friction largely stemming from highly charged economic issues surrounding trade tariffs and military postures.
The Pentagon has notably ramped up naval operations in contested areas of the South China Sea, reinforcing military partnerships with allies like Japan, Australia, and the Philippines to counteract Chinese assertiveness.
In response to Hegseth’s comments, the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that ‘the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair,’ insisting that no nation, including the U.S., is positioned to interfere.
The spokesperson warned the U.S. against using Taiwan as leverage against China, stating that America must not ‘play with fire’ on this sensitive issue.
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