“The Chinese army has too much presence in the Western hemisphere,” says the head of the Pentagon, who claims that the US does not look for “war” with China
The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, holds a speech during a press conference, in a military camp in Quezon City, Philippines, on March 28, 2025. Photo: AA / Abaca / Abaca Press / Profimedia
The United States does not seek “war” with China, but it has to make the “proof of firmness” in front of its “threats”, Panama, American Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth on Wednesday in a regional security conference, quoted by AFP.
“We are not looking for war with China. And the war with China is definitely not inevitable. We do not seek it in any form. But together we must prevent the war, doing the proof of firmness and proving vigor in the face of China's threats in this hemisphere,” Hegseth said in front of the military and regional security.
“We must recognize the threat that China represents for our countries, our peoples and peace in this region,” he added, appreciating that Chinese enterprises “acquire land, critical infrastructures in strategic sectors, such as energy and telecommunications.”
The head of the Pentagon also said that “the Chinese army has too much presence in the Western hemisphere”, “exploits military installations” and “national resources and land to feed its global military ambitions”.
Hegseth, who arrived in Panama on Tuesday, also denounced “Chinese fishing fleets that steal our nations and peoples.”
“Beijing invests and operates in this region for military advantages and unfair economic gains,” he said, not to be misunderstood.
Hegseth has reiterated that Donald Trump's administration will not allow China to have an influence on the Panama interoceanic channel, built by the United States and which the Republican president promised to “recover”.
“We work closely with our Panama partners to secure the channel and to promote mutual security interests. Together we will recover it from the Chinese influence,” said the Pentagon chief.
