Riyaz ul Khaliq
10 September 2025•Update: 10 September 2025
- Dong Jun stresses 'importance of respecting each other's core interests'
- US has 'vital interests' in Asia-Pacific, 'the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests,' says Pete Hegseth
ISTANBUL
The Chinese and US defense chiefs held on Wednesday a video call, with Dong Jun telling Pete Hegseth that neither "containment" nor "deterrence" against Beijing will work.
The US Defense Department had requested the call, according to China’s Defense Ministry.
Dong told Hegseth that “it is imperative to uphold an open attitude, maintain communication and engagement, and build a sound, stable China-US military relationship that is based on equality, respect and peaceful coexistence.”
The Chinese defense minister stressed “importance of respecting each other's core interests.”
“China's complete reunification is an unstoppable historical trend, and any attempts or interference to ‘support independence through force’ or ‘use Taiwan to contain China’ will be thwarted,” he warned.
On the disputed South China Sea, where US ally Philippines has seen tensions escalate with Beijing recently, Dong said China “is committed to working with other countries in the region to safeguard peace and stability” and “firmly opposes acts of infringement or provocation by certain countries, as well as attempts by certain non-regional countries to stir trouble.”
He said China has “focused on its own development, and firmly defends its legitimate rights and interests.”
“The acts of containment or deterrence against China will not succeed, nor will interference in China's affairs,” said the Chinese defense chief.
US does not seek conflict
According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, Hegseth made "clear that the United States does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or strangulation" of world's second largest economy.
However, he added, Hegseth "forthrightly relayed that the US has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific, the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests."
"Overall," said the Pentagon spokesman, Hegseth and Dong "exchanged views in a candid and constructive manner. They agreed to further discussions."
