China-US Confrontation at Shangri-La Dialogue: Escalating Rhetoric and Strategic Rivalry in the Asia-Pacific
The 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore became the stage for one of the most direct public confrontations between China and the United States in recent years, exposing the deepening fissures in their strategic competition. China’s defense ministry launched an unprecedented broadside against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of exploiting the forum to “create disputes, sow discord, provoke confrontation, and seek selfish interests.” This rhetorical escalation occurred against the backdrop of heightened military posturing in the South China Sea, competing visions for regional security architecture, and a fundamental clash over the rules-based international order. The exchange not only highlighted the zero-sum nature of contemporary U.S.-China relations but also raised critical questions about the viability of multilateral dialogue mechanisms in managing great-power tensions.
