On September 9, 2025, a phone call between U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun marked a pivotal moment in the fraught relationship between Washington and Beijing. The conversation, described by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell as "candid and constructive," came just days after China’s dramatic military parade, where President Xi Jinping displayed new weaponry and solidified alliances with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The timing of the call, the first between the two defense chiefs, underscored the urgency of military and diplomatic dialogue amid intensifying geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the Pentagon, Hegseth “forthrightly relayed that the U.S. has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific, the priority theater, and will resolutely protect those interests.” Yet, he was equally clear in his message that the United States does not seek conflict with China nor is it pursuing regime change or the "strangulation of the PRC." As reported by Reuters, this balancing act—asserting U.S. priorities while signaling a desire for stability—was a key theme throughout the call. Both sides, despite their differences, agreed to further discussions, a modest but significant step toward keeping lines of communication open.
The call’s context was anything but ordinary. Just the previous week, China had staged a military parade that captured the attention of the world. President Xi, in a show of strength, appeared alongside Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, a tableau that sent a clear signal about Beijing’s growing ties with Moscow and Pyongyang. During the event, Xi declared that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would "resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," a remark widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Taiwan. U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that Xi’s goal of modernizing the PLA by 2027—the force’s centennial—could coincide with preparations for an invasion of the self-governing island.
The parade itself was a showcase of China’s evolving military prowess. According to Fox News, observers were treated to a display of the country’s full nuclear triad, hypersonic missiles, and new stealth drones—technology that underscores Beijing’s ambitions to reshape the regional balance of power. This demonstration came just two months after the United States held its own military parade to commemorate the Army’s 250th birthday, highlighting a growing sense of competition and mutual signaling between the two superpowers.
In recent years, China has not only modernized its forces but also deepened security partnerships with Russia and North Korea. Arms transfers and military technology exchanges have become more frequent, drawing the attention—and ire—of Washington. The U.S. has accused North Korea of supplying munitions to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine, while Chinese firms have faced sanctions for allegedly helping Moscow skirt Western export controls. These entanglements have added new layers of complexity to an already volatile international landscape.
Against this backdrop, the September 9 call took on added significance. China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported that the video call was held at Hegseth’s request. Admiral Dong Jun, for his part, urged Hegseth to maintain communication and an open attitude, advocating for stable and positive military ties based on “equal respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect.” Dong also reiterated China’s commitment to working with regional countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea—a strategic waterway rife with competing territorial claims—and voiced opposition to “the infringement and provocation of certain countries and the deliberate incitement of countries not in the region.”
The diplomatic efforts didn’t stop at the defense chiefs. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke the following day with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a follow-up to their July meeting in Malaysia. Both sides characterized their earlier encounter as positive and constructive, despite ongoing tension over President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies targeting Chinese exports. In August, Washington and Beijing managed to extend a partial truce on tariffs for 90 days, temporarily easing economic friction while broader disagreements simmered beneath the surface.
The parade and subsequent high-level talks also prompted a flurry of political reactions in Washington. President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to be renamed the Department of War, a symbolic move reflecting his administration’s hard-nosed approach. The new title, which would apply to Hegseth, was still pending congressional approval but sent a clear message about the administration’s priorities. Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, responded to the parade by asserting that Xi, Putin, and Kim were "conspiring against him," according to Reuters. A U.S. official echoed these concerns, stating that "America is going to re-evaluate" the situation in light of some countries "siding with the Chinese."
These developments have stoked debate within the United States about the best path forward. Some observers, particularly those aligned with the Trump administration, argue that a more assertive stance is necessary to deter Chinese ambitions and reassure American allies. Others caution that escalating rhetoric and military posturing risk fueling an arms race or even accidental conflict. The Biden administration, for its part, has sought to balance deterrence with engagement, emphasizing the importance of open communication while maintaining a robust military presence in the region.
Meanwhile, China’s leadership has continued to project confidence. President Xi’s remarks at the parade, his public appearances with Putin and Kim, and his insistence on the PLA’s modernization timeline have all contributed to an image of a rising power determined to assert its interests. At the same time, Beijing has sought to frame its actions as defensive and stabilizing, pointing to its stated commitment to peaceful coexistence and regional cooperation.
For now, the path ahead remains uncertain. The agreement between Hegseth and Dong to hold further talks offers a glimmer of hope that cooler heads might prevail, even as both sides continue to prepare for the possibility of confrontation. As the Asia-Pacific becomes an ever more central theater in global geopolitics, the stakes for peace, stability, and prosperity could hardly be higher.
In the end, the events of early September 2025 serve as a stark reminder that the world’s great powers are locked in a delicate dance—one where words matter as much as weapons, and where every gesture is scrutinized for signs of intent. Whether this latest round of dialogue leads to lasting progress or merely postpones the next crisis remains to be seen. But for now, the lines of communication remain open, and that, at least, is something worth noting.