China has issued a strong warning to the United States following remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding Taiwan. During a speech at a security summit in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth stated that China appeared to be actively preparing for military action that could alter the balance of power in Asia. He claimed the Chinese military was developing capabilities to invade Taiwan and was conducting drills for such a scenario.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry released a statement just after midnight on Sunday, stating that it had officially protested to Washington. It condemned Hegseth’s comments, describing them as unacceptable and unhelpful. The ministry urged the U.S. not to treat the Taiwan situation as a tool to contain China and warned against what it called “playing with fire.”
Beijing reiterated its stance that Taiwan is part of its territory and stressed that the matter is strictly a domestic issue. It criticized foreign involvement, saying no external government has the right to interfere.
China also took issue with Hegseth’s comments about the South China Sea. The U.S. defense chief accused Beijing of illegally taking over and militarizing disputed areas. China, which claims nearly the entire waterway, dismissed these accusations and insisted that navigation in the region has never been threatened.
A spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry said China is acting within its legal boundaries to protect its territorial and maritime interests. The official also accused the United States of escalating tensions by deploying military assets in the region, calling it a move that turns the Indo-Pacific into a “powder keg.”
