China has fired back at the United States after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned over the weekend that China poses an “imminent” threat to Taiwan. Speaking at a security summit in Singapore on May 31, Hegseth said China was preparing for military action and could be aiming to take over Taiwan by 2027. He claimed China was building and training its military every day to prepare for this, and said such a move could shift the power balance in Asia, potentially harming U.S. allies in the region.
He stressed that Taiwan, which governs itself but is claimed by China, was in serious danger of being invaded. Hegseth’s comments added to the growing concern in the West about China’s ambitions in the Asia-Pacific, especially its past clashes with countries over control of the South China Sea.
But China didn’t stay silent. The Chinese embassy in Singapore responded strongly through a series of Facebook posts on June 1. Without directly naming the United States, the embassy suggested that it was actually America that was stirring up trouble. One post stated that China has shown “a high degree of restraint” when it comes to disputes in the South China Sea and accused foreign powers of creating problems by interfering.
China called out the frequent military drills held by the US and its allies in the region, saying these actions, not China’s, are what threaten peace and stability. The post accused America of using the excuse of “freedom of navigation” to send military ships near Chinese waters, spy on Chinese islands, and encourage tensions. According to China, this is nothing short of bullying and provocation. They argued that it’s obvious who is really escalating conflict in the region.
In short, China pushed back hard against Hegseth’s warning, saying the US is the one provoking conflict, not China, and called for cooperation and mutual respect based on history and international law.
