Provocative rhetoric of US criticized

China, Asia-Pacific countries choose cooperation, talks over confrontation

China strongly criticized on Sunday the speech delivered by the United States defense chief at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, calling it an attempt to promote bloc confrontation and exaggerate the "China threat" theory, while experts noted that the US' bid to drive a wedge between China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region will be ineffective.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, peddled Cold War mentality, and smeared and attacked China with provocative and divisive rhetoric, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to this development, and has lodged stern representations with the US, the statement added.