China has warned the United States “not to play with fire” regarding Taiwan. The warning came in response to comments made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a high-level summit in Singapore, where he referred to China as a “threat to the region.”
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth accused China of preparing a military offensive against Taiwan in an attempt to alter the balance of power in Asia. However, the Taiwanese government has rejected Beijing’s claims, stating that the people of Taiwan are fully capable of deciding their own future.
According to Al Jazeera, China has responded to U.S. Secretary of State Hegseth’s remarks by reiterating that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter. China has warned the U.S. not to use the Taiwan issue for its own strategic advantage.
China cautioned the U.S. against the illusion of using Taiwan as a “bargaining chip” to contain China, warning that such actions amount to “playing with fire.” China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that it will use force if necessary to bring the island under its control.
Hegseth, warning of the threat of an attack on Taiwan, called on key security allies— including Australia and other partners in the Asia-Pacific region— to increase their defense spending.
However, China has accused Washington of deploying provocative weapons in the South China Sea and escalating regional tensions. It criticized the U.S. Secretary of State for promoting a Cold War mentality and reiterated its demand that the U.S. not interfere in the Taiwan issue.
China and the Philippines have both laid claims to several islands and atolls in the South China Sea. These disputes have led to frequent confrontations between their coast guards during patrols in the contested areas.
“The United States is the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the Chinese statement said. Notably, China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum. Instead, Beijing sent a lower-level delegation to the event.
This marks the first time since 2019 that China has not sent its defense minister to the high-level regional security talks. The forum was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tensions between the world’s two largest economies—China and the United States—have been steadily escalating since Donald Trump was elected U.S. President.
