US Secretary of Defense Pitt Hegschez had his first conversation with his Chinese counterpart and stressed that the United States is not seeking a conflict with China, but will protect their vital interests in the Asia-Pacific region, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

China is Washington’s main geopolitical opponent, and Hegschet enraged Beijing in May when he urged the regional allies to spend more on defense after warning of the ‘Real and possibly imminent’ Threat from China.

The Pentagon’s Representative, Sean Parnelsaid that Heguez and the Chinese Minister of Defense, Admiral Dong Junthey had one ‘Honest and constructive’ teleconference on Tuesday.

“Minister Hegue has made it clear that the United States is not seeking conflict with China, nor are they seeking a change of regime or” strangulation “of the People’s Republic of China”he said.

“At the same time, however, he directly said that the US has vital interests in the Asia-Pacific region, and will protect these interests decisively.”

Parnell said the two had agreed to further discussions.

The US President Donald Trump He ordered the Ministry of Defense to be renamed to a Ministry of War, a change that would require approval from Congress. The new name will also apply to Heguez, changing his title to “War Secretary”.

Talks followed a large military parade last week in which the Chinese leader Si Jing hosted the Russian president Vladimir Putin and the North Korean leader Kim Jong Uncausing concern among some world leaders that become witnesses of a significant geopolitical shiftalthough some experts challenge it, as the Reuters.

Trump replied by saying that Si, Putin and Kim were conspiring against him. An American official said Trump was ‘Frustrated to see some countries in favor of the Chinese’ and that ‘America is going to re -evaluate’ the situation.

China’s State News Agency Xinhua He reported that Tuesday’s video call was held at Hegsheth’s request. He said Dong urged him to maintain communication and an open attitude, as well as to cultivate steady and positive military ties based on the “Mutual respect and peaceful coexistence”.

The Xinhua He also said that Dong said China is committed to working with the countries of the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, a strategic floating road where China and other states have opposing claims, and opposed “In the violation and challenge of certain countries and in the deliberate incitement of countries that are not in the region.”

The Foreign Ministry said the US Secretary of State, Mark Rubioalso talked on Wednesday with the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang forfollowing their meeting in Malaysia in July, and “He emphasized the importance of open and constructive communication in a number of bilateral issues.”

July’s meeting was then characterized by both sides as positive and constructivedespite the tension on Trump’s global tariff attack, in which China is an important goal.

In August, Washington and Beijing extended a partial truce for 90 days, preventing even higher duties, but on Tuesday Trump urged EU officials to impose up to 100% duties on China As part of a strategy to push Putin for the war in Ukraine, according to an American official and a European diplomat.