A Chinese military official on Saturday rejected U.S. allegations about Beijing’s regional behavior, accusing Washington of destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region.
Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, vice president of the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore. His remarks came in response to statements earlier in the day by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who said China was harassing neighbors in the South China Sea and preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027.
Hu called Hegseth’s accusations “groundless” and said they were meant to "stir up trouble, create division, and incite confrontation."
He also criticized what he described as growing military alliances and deployments in the region, saying: “Some countries are promoting exclusive and confrontational small circles and have drastically increased their military presence.”
Hu said actions under the pretext of “freedom of navigation” were infringing on sovereignty and contributing to instability in the Taiwan Strait and broader Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.
China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend this year’s summit, marking a break from regular participation since 2019.
Read next
13:00
Gothenburg tram
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
12:30
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, in Baku, as the two countries look to deepen their strategic economic partnership.
12:00
China flood
China issued red alerts as extreme monsoon rain trigger flash floods across central and southern regions, threatening lives, and infrastructure.
11:20
Germany's producer prices
Germany’s producer prices dropped 1.2% year-on-year in May, in line with market expectations, largely due to falling energy prices, official data showed Friday.
10:52
Morning Brief
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 20th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment