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China condemned US defense secretary Pete Hegseth's speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, accusing him of "sowing division" by portraying China as an imminent military threat to the Indo-Pacific. Hegseth warned of China's potential invasion of Taiwan and called for increased Asian defense spending. China rejected these claims, accusing the US of being the true hegemonic power and undermining regional peace. Australia's defense minister countered China's criticism, citing China's significant military buildup. The conference saw limited high-level Chinese participation, further highlighting the tensions.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.