China defends Taiwan stance, calls U.S. ‘hegemon’

China lit up the U.S. government on Sunday after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that China was a threat to Indo-Pacific stability.

According to the full statement from China’s Ministry of Defense, spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said the U.S. “creates disputes, sows discord, provokes confrontation, and seeks selfish interests.” He added that the U.S. would suffer the consequences if it keeps moving down that road alone.

Zhang’s statement came hours after Hegseth gave his speech at the annual security summit, where he called out China directly and criticized Beijing for not sending a top official to participate. 

Hegseth pointed out that it was the first time since 2019 that China didn’t send its defense minister, which effectively cut it off from military diplomacy with major powers attending the event. That absence came at a time when many officials had expected clarity on China’s plans for regional security.

China defends Taiwan stance, calls U.S. ‘hegemon’

In a separate response, China’s Foreign Ministry described the U.S. as “the true hegemonic country in the world,” saying it’s the “biggest factor that undermines peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region.” The ministry also warned Washington to stop “playing with fire” over Taiwan after Hegseth declared that a confrontation over the island “could be imminent.”

This year’s summit structure was already out of step with tradition. The Sunday program didn’t open with China’s usual rebuttal session, where its top military voice typically responds to the U.S. and its allies. 

Instead, the only Chinese speaker in an official capacity was Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, vice president of the National Defense University, who avoided questions on Defense Minister Dong Jun’s absence.

“Every time we send the delegation on different levels — this is completely a normal work arrangement,” Hu said. “It’ll not affect our explanation of our national defense policies, ideas, and communication with others or enhance mutual trust.”

China’s irritation spread beyond the forum stage. Wang Xiaolong, Beijing’s envoy to New Zealand, slammed Hegseth’s Taiwan comments in an X post on Sunday. “If this is not saber rattling or fearmongering, then nothing is,” Wang said. “It will be a stretch of imagination to think that many, if any at all, in the region would buy that unfounded, self-centric, and delusional rhetoric.”

Embassy and delegates criticize forum shift

On Facebook, China’s embassy in Singapore posted two sharp rebukes. The first post went after French President Emmanuel Macron, who had said the world’s handling of Russia’s war in Ukraine should guide the global response to a future Taiwan crisis. The embassy called that comparison “unacceptable.”

The second post zeroed in on Hegseth. “Mr. Hegseth repeatedly smeared and attacked China and relentlessly played up the so-called ‘China threat,’” it said. “As a matter of fact, the U.S. itself is the biggest ‘troublemaker’ for regional peace and stability.” 

Public criticism of the Shangri-La Dialogue by China’s embassy is rare. Typically, the diplomats stay behind the scenes and help coordinate logistics for the visiting Chinese military team.

Despite the lack of media appearances or briefings this year, some members of China’s delegation participated in sessions. Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, who teaches at the National Defense University, asked Hegseth how the U.S. would prioritize allies versus Southeast Asian countries, considering many of its security frameworks don’t include ASEAN members. That exchange was one of the few times a Chinese official directly confronted U.S. policy during the forum.

Still, China’s visibility was clearly lower than last year. In 2024, its delegation had multiple press briefings and student-led roundtable discussions with the media. This year, there were no such events.

Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now