Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host, China’s government declared last week, is attempting to sow discord across Asia. This accusation follows a speech he gave late last month. In his keynote speech, Hegseth criticized China’s military aggression. He even termed them rehearsal for an invasion of Taiwan, warning that the thing was “the real McCoy.” As one might expect, the Chinese government reacted vigorously. They criticized Hegseth’s statements as inflammatory and argued that they represent a significant danger to regional stability.
The CCP has an abiding conviction that Taiwan is a province of China. They claim that as it’s currently run, illegally governed by the nation’s separatists. For the CCP, the goal of annexing Taiwan has never been negotiable and is considered a core national interest. Chinese officials have repeatedly gone out of their way to stress that they believe in achieving reunification with Taiwan. They don’t want to see any rhetoric or moves that would jeopardize that goal.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major Asian security forum in Singapore, China sent a high-level delegation. The team was headed by Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, at the time vice-president of the People’s Liberation Army’s national defense university. During the event, Hu vigorously protested Hegseth’s comments. He claimed that all of the other speakers were attempting to incite riot and insurrection in the area. This announcement only serves to underscore how hyper-sensitive China is to any mention of Taiwan and the country’s trailing geopolitical global strategy.
For all the upset from Hegseth’s claims, none was as stinging as the response from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry condemned his remarks as the latest in a series of efforts to create discord and confusion about China’s goals. Chinese officials insist that the international community understand their position properly. This is particularly the case when it comes to SCS-related issues.
China has asserted extraordinary claims over large areas of the South China Sea, where sovereignty is disputed by multiple countries. The Chinese government has dismissed a 2016 ruling from The Hague, which found China’s territorial claims illegal. Chinese officials claim that the maritime situation in the region is “generally stable.” There is an important and dangerous pushback, led mostly by countries supporting “Taiwan independence separatist forces” and conducting freedom of navigation operations.
Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing remarked on the importance of using every opportunity to communicate China’s perspective more effectively. This simple statement gives voice to a new realization sweeping the continent of Asia. As war looms, countries are becoming more aware of the need to listen and comprehend.
Hegseth’s remarks have drawn an outraged response from China. On the issue they euphemistically refer to as “the Taiwan question,” they have continued to criticize him for “playing with fire.” First is the CCP’s vigorous effort to refute unfavorable narratives that cast China as a regional hegemonic power. In this report, they debunk these claims as misleading.
China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun previously met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin last year, signaling an ongoing dialogue between the two nations despite rising tensions over Taiwan. The U.S. has rightly raised alarms over China’s aggressive military moves and what they could mean for security in the region.