China slams US for ‘cold war mentality’ in labelling it a threat

China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday, June 1, 2025, accused U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of making defamatory remarks and stoking regional tensions by labelling it a threat, during his speech in Singapore.

Hegseth had delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key international security conference held in Singapore on Saturday, May 31.

In a strongly worded statement, Beijing said Hegseth’s comments vilified China and encouraged confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the ministry, Hegseth disregarded regional aspirations for peace and development, instead promoting a Cold War-style narrative that encourages bloc-based rivalry.

“Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation,” the statement read.

The statement refered to the post-WWII ideological struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The statement went on to accuse the United States of being the true hegemonic power undermining peace.

“No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself,” it said.

It added that Washington was a destabilizing force in the Asia-Pacific.

Speaking at the conference on Saturday, Hegseth had emphasized that the U.S. would strengthen its overseas military capabilities.

This he claimed was in response to what the Pentagon views as escalating threats from China, especially its increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan.

“China’s army is rehearsing for the real deal,” Hegseth warned.

“We are not going to sugarcoat it, the threat China poses is real.

“And it could be imminent.”

In response, Chinese officials called Hegseth’s comments provocative and misleading.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Taiwan is a domestic matter, warning the U.S. to avoid meddling.

“The Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affair, and the U.S. should never play with fire,” the spokesperson stated.

Beijing also accused Washington of militarizing the South China Sea by deploying offensive weaponry and exacerbating instability.

“The U.S. is stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, turning the region into a powder keg,” the statement added.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, echoed this sentiment, saying Hegseth’s comments distorted China’s policies and amounted to deliberate provocation.

These tensions unfolded despite a recent agreement between China and the United States aimed at easing trade disputes.

Just last month, both sides agreed to a temporary reduction in tariffs.

U.S. duties on Chinese goods were scaled back from 145% to 30% for 90 days, while China cut its tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%.

The truce was intended to allow time for more substantial negotiations, but uncertainty remains.

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on the future of the deal.

He declared on social media that he would no longer be “nice” to China and accusing Beijing of breaking an unspecified agreement.

Tensions flared further last week after the U.S. announced plans to revoke visas for Chinese students studying in the country.

Beijing viewed this move as an escalation in the broader diplomatic rift.

Meanwhile, at the same forum on Sunday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected the notion that the U.S. was to blame for regional instability.

The Philippines has seen rising confrontations with China over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Teodoro criticized Beijing’s definition of fairness, suggesting it contradicts international norms.

In response, China’s Embassy in Singapore labelled Teodoro’s remarks as “groundless accusations.”

Also, it asserted that the South China Sea islands are China’s inherent territory.

The embassy blamed the Philippines for recent maritime tensions, citing alleged unauthorized incursions near two reefs.

It also accused unnamed foreign powers of heightening tensions by deploying offensive military assets and conducting joint exercises in the region.

“Which country is coercing and bullying others, and instigating conflicts and confrontation in the South China Sea?

“The answer is clear to all,” the embassy said.

Separately, China criticized attempts to compare the Taiwan issue with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron had warned of a dangerous double standard in focusing on Taiwan while neglecting Ukraine.

Without naming Macron directly, the Chinese Embassy posted a photo of him at the forum and argued that such comparisons reflect a biased perspective.

“If one tries to denounce ‘double standards’ through the lens of a double standard, the only result is still double standard,” the embassy said.

Notably, China sent a lower-level delegation to this year’s forum.

The delegation was led by Major General Hu Gangfeng of the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University, rather than its defense minister.

Analysts say that this move that reflects the current diplomatic strain between Beijing and Washington.

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