{"id":1802,"date":"2025-09-12T10:50:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/?p=1802"},"modified":"2025-09-15T18:51:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T18:51:58","slug":"us-isnt-seeking-confrontation-with-china-pentagon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/12\/us-isnt-seeking-confrontation-with-china-pentagon\/","title":{"rendered":"US isn\u2019t seeking confrontation with China \u2013 Pentagon"},"content":{"rendered":"
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told Beijing that Washington does not want conflict but will defend its Asia-Pacific interests<\/strong><\/p>\n US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has held his first phone call with China’s minister of national defense, Admiral Dong Jun, telling him that Washington does not seek conflict, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The conversation comes amid strained ties as Washington has described Beijing as its main geopolitical rival. In May, Hegseth claimed that “the threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,”<\/em> and urged countries in the Asia-Pacific to boost military spending.<\/p>\n In Tuesday’s call, Hegseth stressed the US is not pursuing confrontation, regime change, or “strangulation”<\/em> of China. At the same time, he emphasized that Washington has “vital interests in the Asia-Pacific, the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests,”<\/em> according to a readout of the conversation. The Pentagon described the exchange as “candid.”<\/em><\/p>\n China’s Xinhua news agency reported that the call was held at Hegseth’s request and that Dong urged continued communication and an open attitude to foster stable and positive military ties based on “equal respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect.”<\/em> Xinhua also cited Dong as saying China seeks peace and stability in the South China Sea and opposes “infringement and provocation”<\/em> by non-regional countries.<\/p>\n Last month, Washington and Beijing extended a 90-day tariff truce, keeping planned increases on hold until November 10.<\/p>\n