Secretary of War Pete Hegseth held his first call with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, on Sept. 9, in a conversation that comes as Beijing deepens ties with Moscow and Pyongyang while showcasing its own military might.<\/p>\n
Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth ‘forthrightly relayed that the U.S. has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific, the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests.’<\/p>\n
‘Hegseth made clear that the United States does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or strangulation of the PRC.’<\/p>\n
Parnell said the call, which occurred on Tuesday but was made public Wednesday, was ‘candid and constructive,’ and the defense chiefs agreed to further discussions. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Fox News Digital reached out to the Chinese embassy for comment on the call. <\/p>\n
Last week, China hosted a military parade where President Xi Jinping showcased his regional alliances in public appearances with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. <\/p>\n
Xi at the time hinted at his ambitions toward Taiwan, saying that the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) would ‘resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.’<\/p>\n
Xi has repeatedly set 2027, the 100th anniversary of the PLA, as a deadline for military modernization \u2014 a timeline U.S. officials warn could coincide with preparations for an invasion of Taiwan.<\/u><\/p>\n
During the parade, China showcased its full nuclear triad, hypersonic missiles and new stealth drones. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The show of force came two months after the U.S. hosted its own military parade to coincide with the Army\u2019s 250th birthday. <\/p>\n
In recent years, Beijing has deepened its security partnerships with Pyongyang and Moscow through arms transfers and military technology exchanges.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has accused North Korea of supplying munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine, while Chinese firms have been sanctioned for helping Russia skirt Western export controls.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump, however, has suggested he may meet with Xi in the future as trade negotiations drag on. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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