It was reported that on Saturday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, in which he exaggerated the so-called “China threat” and made negative remarks on Taiwan question and South China Sea issue.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry (FM) stated on Sunday that Hegseth ignored the calls of regional countries for peace and development, promoted a Cold War mentality of bloc confrontation, smeared and attacked China, and exaggerated the “China threat theory”—remarks that were full of provocation.
China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to these remarks and has made solemn representations to the US, the FM said.
In fact, the US is the world’s true hegemonic power and the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the FM continued. In order to maintain its hegemony and advance the so-called “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” the US has deployed offensive weapons in the South China Sea, stoked tensions, and created instability—turning the region into a “powder keg” and arousing deep concern among regional countries.
The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, and no foreign country has the right to interfere. The US should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it play with fire. China urges the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and to stop supporting “Taiwan independence” forces.
There has never been a problem with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea. China has always insisted on addressing differences with relevant countries through dialogue and consultation, and on safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with law.
The US is the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, the FM said.
China urges the US to genuinely respect the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability, stop deliberately undermining the region’s peaceful environment, refrain from exaggerating conflicts and confrontation, and avoid further exacerbating tensions, the FM added.
