China has issued a stern warning to the United States, advising it not to “play with fire” regarding Taiwan. This follows comments made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.
During his address, Hegseth accused China of preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in Asia. He asserted that the Chinese military is “credibly preparing” for a potential invasion of Taiwan and has been “rehearsing for the real deal.”
In response, China’s foreign ministry stated it had lodged “solemn representations” with Washington over what it described as inflammatory remarks. The ministry emphasized that Taiwan is an internal affair and warned that foreign nations have no right to interfere.
“The U.S. should not try to use the Taiwan issue as a bargaining chip to contain China and should not play with fire,” the ministry said.
China also criticized the U.S. for promoting a Cold War mentality and bloc confrontations, accusing it of undermining peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
The tensions come amid increasing maritime disputes in the South China Sea and concerns over China’s military activities in the region.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is an annual security forum that brings together defense officials from around the world to discuss pressing security challenges.
As geopolitical dynamics evolve, the international community watches closely, hoping for diplomatic solutions to prevent further escalation.
