China accuses US secretary Pete Hegseth of ‘vilifying’ remarks at defence forum

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China has objected to Pete Hegseth calling it a threat in the Indo-Pacific. Photograph: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg China has protested to the United States over “vilifying” remarks made by secretary for defence Pete Hegseth, the ministry for foreign affairs said on Sunday, while accusing it of deliberately ignoring calls for peace from regional nations. China has objected to Mr Hegseth calling it a threat in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added, describing his comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday as “deplorable” and “intended to sow division”. “Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the...