A senior Chinese official accused the United States defence chief on Thursday of “inciting confrontation and conflict” after he urged American allies to bolster their militaries to counter Beijing.
China and the United States last month said they had reached an understanding on a trade deal — a truce after bruising tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s goods.
But the two countries still disagree on issues ranging from technology and security to geopolitics, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as Beijing’s territorial claims in Asia.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that China is preparing to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia and has urged American allies to achieve “peace through strength”.