China warns the US “not to play with fire”, after the statements made by the head of the Pentagon
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Credit Line: Jessica Lee / AP / Profimedia
China said the United States “should not play with the fire” about Taiwan and said it has sent Washington a protest note on the comments made by the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth during the Singapore Summit, AFP reports.
During the speech held on Saturday in Singapore, at an annual security forum, the US Secretary of Defense said of China that “is preparing credibly” to use military force to overthrow power in Asia. The American official said that the Chinese army is building capabilities to invade Taiwan and “trains daily” in this regard.
In a statement issued on Sunday (after China time), shortly after midnight, China's Foreign Ministry has announced that it has sent a note of protest on Hegseth's comments, which he “disapproves vehement.”
“The US should not try to use Taiwan's problem as a exchange currency to keep China under control and should not play with fire,” said China's Foreign Ministry.
Beijing, who did not send his Minister of Defense, Dong Jun, at the Singapore Summit, described the “Taiwan's problem” as an “internal business” of China and claims that other countries have no right to mix.
China believes that self -government democratic island is its territory and has not excluded the use of force to take control.
Divergence and in the situation of South China Sea
In the speech in Singapore, the head of the Petangon had also accused Beijing of “illegal capture and militarization of the South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entire navigable path, despite an international decision that has established that its position has no basis.
China's Foreign Ministry claimed on Sunday that “there was never a problem” with the movement of ships on the waterway.
China “is committed to protecting its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law,” said a ministry spokesman.
In addition, Beijing has accused Washington of transforming the Indo-Pacific region into a “powder barrel” by conducting weapons into the South China Sea.
