Chinese defense ministry criticizes Hegseth's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue

China's Ministry of National Defense expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition on Sunday to the United States defense chief's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which it said was filled with hegemonic logic and seriously provoked China's sovereign rights and interests while distorting China's policy positions.

The ministry's spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made these remarks in a statement responding to the US defense secretary Pete Hegseth's speech at the high-profile security summit on Saturday.

The senior US official, in his speech, urged Asia-Pacific countries to increase their military spending to five percent of GDP to counter perceived threats from China in the region, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang said the US is accustomed to using the Shangri-La Dialogue to create disputes, incite confrontation, and seek its own interests.

The US remarks were rife with deeply ingrained hegemonic logic and Cold War mentality, he said, underscoring that the speech seriously ignored the joint efforts of regional countries to maintain prosperity and stability and deviated from the common desire of countries worldwide for peace and development.

The spokesman noted that the actions of the US are clear to the whole world.

"For its own selfish interests, the US launches tariff wars and trade wars; forms 'small circles' and engages in bloc confrontation, causing deep concerns among countries; strengthens military deployments in the Asia-Pacific, rudely interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, and stirs up tensions," Zhang said.

Facts have repeatedly shown that the US, by going against the trend and acting willfully, will ultimately harm itself, the military official said.

Zhang reiterated China's position on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue.

"The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, and the US has no right to make irresponsible remarks, let alone attempt to use it as a bargaining chip to contain China," he said.

The People's Liberation Army will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and firmly crush any "Taiwan independence" separatist plots and any external interference, Zhang said.

"Our determination and will are rock-solid, and our capabilities and means are strong and reliable," he said.

Emphasizing that the South China Sea is one of the busiest and safest shipping lanes globally, he said China will continue to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation with relevant countries, uphold territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law, and work with regional countries to build a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.

The US, fearing no chaos in the South China Sea, forms cliques and stirs up trouble, posing the greatest threat to regional peace and stability, Zhang said.

The spokesman said that China has always been a defender and builder of peace and development in the Asia-Pacific.

The Chinese military will work with regional countries to jointly oppose hegemonism that harms the Asia-Pacific, prevent geopolitical conflicts from being introduced into the region, and oppose any country or force that creates trouble here, he stressed.

"We will actively pursue the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the three major global initiatives, working together to maintain long-term peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific," said Zhang.