A top Chinese official on Thursday sharply criticised U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of fueling tensions rather than promoting peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, rebuked Hegseth’s recent comments urging U.S. allies to strengthen their militaries in response to East Asian country growing assertiveness. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, Liu said: “What he truly wants is force, not dialogue. What he is inciting is confrontation and conflict, not peace and harmony.”
The remarks come just weeks after Washington and Beijing appeared to reach a tentative trade truce following prolonged tariff battles. However, tensions remain high over a range of issues, including technology, global conflicts, and China’s regional territorial ambitions.
Hegseth has previously warned that Beijing is preparing for military action aimed at altering the balance of power in Asia, calling on U.S. partners to embrace a strategy of “peace through strength.”
Despite some diplomatic progress, deep divisions remain, particularly over the East Asia country’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea and its insistence on the eventual reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.
China vows not to back down
Reaffirming China’s firm stance, Liu stated: “The Chinese government has made it crystal clear that it will never back down on these issues. The Chinese people will do their utmost to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification of the motherland, but we will never allow Taiwan independence.”
He concluded with a pointed message: “The United States must respect China’s sovereignty on this issue.”
