China warns US against provoking Taiwan crisis

China has issued a stern warning to the United States, cautioning it not to "play with fire" regarding Taiwan, following remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who labeled China as a "threat to the region" at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore. Hegseth accused China of actively preparing for military action to alter the balance of power in Asia, suggesting Beijing is rehearsing for a possible invasion of Taiwan.

China views Taiwan, which operates under a separate government, as part of its own territory and has pledged to reunify the island with the mainland by force if necessary. Taiwan’s authorities reject these claims, insisting that only its citizens have the right to decide their future.

In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly condemned Hegseth’s statements, emphasizing that Taiwan is an internal issue and warning foreign nations not to exploit it for political leverage. The ministry criticized US actions in the Asia-Pacific as dangerously escalating tensions and turning the region into a potential "powder keg."

The ministry warned, "The US should not have illusions about using the Taiwan issue as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it provoke conflict." Hegseth had also urged US allies, including Australia, to increase their defense spending amid what he described as a "real and possibly imminent" threat from China.

Beijing accused the US of being the main destabilizing force in the Asia-Pacific region, accusing Washington of deploying offensive weapons in the South China Sea and escalating tensions. The Chinese government also condemned Hegseth for spreading defamatory accusations and fostering a "Cold War mentality."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Hegseth ignored the regional call for peace and development, promoted division through Cold War rhetoric, and falsely portrayed China as a threat." China has lodged a formal protest with the US over what it terms "inflammatory language."

Sovereignty disputes between China and the Philippines over islands and reefs in the South China Sea have intensified, with frequent confrontations between their coastguards. China denied US allegations of threatening maritime navigation and stressed its commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue while upholding international law.

The statement concluded, "The US is the primary cause of instability in the South China Sea."

Notably, China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue this year, sending a delegation of lower-ranking officials instead. This marks the first absence of China’s defense minister since 2019, except for the cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, tensions between the two largest economies, China and the US, remain elevated amid ongoing trade conflicts and tariff disputes initiated under former President Donald Trump.