### Chinese General Rebukes US Defense Chief at Shangri-La Dialogue

In a heated exchange during this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, a Chinese general sharply criticized US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks, accusing the United States of causing instability in the Asia-Pacific region.

PLA Major General and vice-president of China's National Defence University, Hu Gangfeng, confronted Hegseth during a panel session on Saturday afternoon. General Hu argued that Hegseth's earlier comments at the conference were filled with "groundless accusations against China".

In his address to Asia-Pacific defense leaders on Saturday morning, Hegseth had accused China of destabilizing the region through military expansion and harassment of its neighbors in the South China Sea. He also warned of a "possibly imminent" threat that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) might use force to take over Taiwan.

Responding directly, General Hu rejected these claims, stating that some of Hegseth's assertions were fabricated to "stir up trouble, create division, incite confrontation, and destabilise the Asia-Pacific". He further criticized certain countries for promoting "exclusive and confrontational small circles" and increasing their military presence in the region.

Hu emphasized China's strong opposition to using the Asia-Pacific waters as an arena for hegemonic ambitions, underscoring Beijing's stance against military escalation and its preference for regional stability and cooperation.