A senior Chinese official accused the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth of “inciting confrontation and conflict” after the latter called on US allies to bolster their militaries to counter Beijing.
Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said Hegseth’s remarks reflected “hegemonic thinking.”
Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing today, Liu said, “What he (Hegseth) truly wants is power, not dialogue.”
Earlier, Hegseth warned that China was preparing to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia and urged US allies to achieve “peace through strength.”