What Hegseth has done is the exact same tactic Narcissists use when they don't like someone, they try to get everyone around them to hate the same person, too.. "We've had a falling out with China yet again, so now ALL other countries must hate them too because we say so! and if you don't we'll raise tariffs on you too!"
https://apnews.com/article/china-us-hegseth-foreign-ministry-041de97b52e9a6efa56cb9dea178ba75