BEIJING: A Chinese defense spokesperson on Sunday said the United States habitually exploits the Shangri-La Dialogue to create dispute, incite confrontation and pursue its own interests.
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in a statement expressing opposition to the negative remarks related to China made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the 22nd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The U.S. defense secretary’s remarks were saturated with entrenched hegemonic logic, bullying tactics and Cold War mentality, Zhang said.
They grossly violate China’s sovereignty and interests, distort China’s policy positions, blatantly disregard regional countries’ joint efforts to uphold prosperity and stability, and severely deviate from the global aspiration for peace and development, he said. “We express grave dissatisfaction and resolute opposition.”
‘U.S. unilateral actions will backfire’
Zhang said the international community sees clearly what the United States has done.
The U.S. has initiated tariff and trade wars, imposing exorbitant levies globally, just for its own selfish interests. It has formed exclusionary cliques and engaged in bloc confrontations, causing deep concerns among various countries, he said.
It has also strengthened military deployments in the Asia-Pacific region, grossly intervened in the internal affairs of other countries, and incited tensions, he added.
The facts have repeatedly proved that the U.S. is going against the tide of the times and acting unilaterally, which will only backfire on itself, Zhang said. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
