Latest news with #ChineseForeignMinistry
Russia Today
19 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
China hits back at US over vilification
Washington is 'vilifying' Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Sunday. The accusation follows remarks made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is deliberately ignoring calls for peace from nations in the region, according to the ministry. Earlier, Hegseth claimed that China poses a real and potentially imminent threat, and urged Washington's allies in the Indo-Pacific region to increase defense and security spending. 'Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region and instead touted a Cold War mentality of bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely labeled China a 'threat',' the ministry said in a statement. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, the defense secretary accused Chinese authorities of seeking to fundamentally alter the region's status quo and aiming to 'become a hegemonic power.' Hegseth also raised the issue of Taiwan, which relies on the US for its defense - accusing Beijing of preparing to invade the territory. The Chinese foreign ministry described the comments as 'deplorable' and 'intended to sow division' in the Asia-Pacific. It emphasized that the only country that 'deserves to be called a hegemonic power' is the US, which it accused of undermining peace and stability in the region. Responding to Hegseth's remarks on the self-governing island, the ministry reiterated that the issue is entirely China's internal affair. It stressed that no foreign nation has the right to interfere and warned the US against using the Taiwan issue as leverage against Beijing. Taiwan has long been a source of discord between Beijing and Washington. While China advocates peaceful reunification, it has warned that any move toward formal independence could trigger armed conflict. Beijing contends that certain elements within the US government are pushing Taiwan toward that outcome. China has also repeatedly criticized US-led joint military drills in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that they destabilize the region and provoke tensions over Taiwan. In addition to geopolitical disputes, the two nations are at odds over trade. US President Donald Trump has blamed Beijing for America's significant trade deficit with China. In May, both countries agreed to pause the tariff hikes introduced the previous month for 90 days, while maintaining a baseline 10% duty on mutual imports. Earlier this week, Trump accused China of violating that agreement.
NHK
a day ago
- General
- NHK
China lashes out at US defense chief over his speech in Singapore
The Chinese foreign ministry has hit back at US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for repeatedly criticizing China by name over Taiwan and the South China Sea at a security conference in Singapore. The ministry's spokesperson made remarks on the protest lodged with the US on Sunday, one day after Hegseth delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue. The spokesperson said China "deplores and firmly opposes" his remarks and "has protested strongly" to the US. The spokesperson described the Taiwan question as "entirely China's internal affair," and added, "no country is in a position to interfere." The spokesperson criticized Washington again over the South China Sea, saying the US is the "primary factor that is hurting the peace and stability" of the region. China lodged another protest with Washington last week when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a decision to begin revoking student visas for Chinese nationals.
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
China slams Hegseth speech, accuses US of seeking to use Taiwan issue as 'leverage' against Beijing
SINGAPORE: China warned the United States against using Taiwan as "leverage" against Beijing, responding to remarks by the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue. On Saturday (May 31), Hegseth characterised China as an imminent threat and criticised its actions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. "The US should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a statement issued early Sunday morning (Jun 1). "The US must never play with fire on this question." The statement was a direct response to Mr Hegseth's speech delivered on Saturday morning at Asia's premier defence summit in Singapore, in which he warned that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force and urged regional allies to increase defence spending. "The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," Hegseth said. China, in turn, accused the US of escalating tensions and undermining peace in the region. "No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself," the foreign ministry said, pointing to American deployments in the South China Sea and its Indo-Pacific strategy as destabilising moves that have turned the region into a "powder keg". It also reiterated that the Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affair, calling on Washington to cease support for "Taiwan independence" forces and fully adhere to the One-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. Hegseth's address marked his first appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue as defence secretary under the Trump administration. He warned that any attempt by Beijing to seize Taiwan would have "devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world," echoing President Donald Trump's assertion that China would not invade Taiwan "on his watch." In a separate panel on Saturday afternoon, China's representative Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng rejected what he described as "groundless accusations" made by other speakers at the forum, calling them "politically motivated" and aimed at provoking conflict. Hu, leading a delegation from the PLA's National Defense University, criticised foreign military deployments near China's waters and reiterated Beijing's opposition to "unilateralism" and "hegemonic bullying". The foreign ministry's statement struck a similar tone, describing Hegseth's speech as filled with "provocations" and warning that Washington's actions are "deliberately destroying the peaceful and stable environment cherished by the region". On the South China Sea, China said there was "no problem" with freedom of navigation and accused the US of being the true disruptor. "China has always been committed to dialogue and consultation," the statement said, while asserting its sovereignty over contested maritime areas. China did not send Defence Minister Dong Jun to this year's forum, the first time since 2019 that Beijing will not be represented by its defence chief.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Chinese spying on Dutch industries 'intensifying': Dutch defence minister
SINGAPORE, May 31 (Reuters) - Chinese efforts to spy on the Dutch are intensifying, with the focus on semiconductors, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Saturday. "The semiconductor industry, which we are technologically leading, or technology advanced, of course, to get that intellectual property - that's interesting to China," Brekelmans said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore. The Dutch military intelligence agency said in its annual report in April last year that Chinese spies have targeted the Dutch semiconductor, aerospace and maritime industries to try to strengthen China's armed forces. When asked if the spying had stopped, Brekelmans said: "It's continuing. In our newest intelligence reports, our intelligence agency said that the biggest cyber threat is coming from China, and that we do see most cyber activity when it comes to us being as from China. That was the case last year, but that's still the case. So we only see this intensifying." China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing routinely denies allegations of cyber espionage and says it opposes all forms of cyberattack. Dutch intelligence agencies first publicly attributed cyber espionage to China last year, when they said state-backed cyber spies had gained access to a Dutch military network in 2023. Brekelmans said security is becoming increasingly important for the Netherlands as China is "using their economic position for geopolitical purposes and also to pressure us". The minister said the Netherlands has introduced instruments to protect key industries and vital interests but the country and region also need to reduce their dependency on China for critical raw materials. "Both on the European Union level, but also on the national level, we need to make bigger steps in order to reduce those dependencies."
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China closer to lifting Japanese seafood ban after ‘substantial progress' in talks
China on Friday appeared to move closer to lifting its ban on Japanese seafood imports, with the foreign ministry pledging to 'study' Tokyo's request on the matter. Advertisement The move is another sign that Beijing is trying to reset ties with its East Asian neighbour amid growing US trade uncertainty, according to an expert on China-Japan relations. The Chinese foreign ministry comment came in response to a media query about Japan's claim that the two sides had agreed on technical conditions for the resumption of such shipments. 'Relevant authorities will study Japan's request to resume exports of Japanese aquatic products to China in accordance with the principles of science and safety, domestic regulations and international trade rules,' ministry spokesman Lin Jian said. Hours earlier, Chinese customs confirmed 'substantial progress' in the new round of bilateral 'technical exchanges' over the safety of Japanese seafood held in Beijing on Wednesday, but offered no details. Advertisement According to Lin, Japan pledged during the talks to take 'credible and visible' measures to ensure the safety and quality of its seafood so as to meet China's regulatory standards.
