U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned China is rehearsing for a potential invasion of Taiwan during a defense forum over the weekend, prompting a response from Chinese officials.

In his opening remarks, Hegseth warned China seeks no less than hegemony over the region and is increasingly willing to resort to force. He cited confrontations in the South China Sea, including incidents in which China's coast guard used water cannon against Philippine vessels, injuring several people last year.

China hits back at Trump official Pete Hegseth for ‘sabre-rattling and fear-mongering’ - China says US defence secretary’s remarks at Shangri-La Dialogue were ‘intended to sow division’

Beijing says US is touting Cold War mentality after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls China threat to the region.

The US defence secretary called on Asian countries to boost defence spending and work with the US to deter war.

In what was his most assertive statement to date on Taiwan, Hegseth issued a stark warning that threats to the island from China “could be imminent.” Hegseth said that the U.S