Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun addressed the opening of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Wednesday, calling on nations to abandon provocative behaviour and remain vigilant against hegemony, militarism, and historical revisionism. While his remarks appeared directed at Japan, Dong refrained from naming any specific countries in his speech, instead emphasizing the need for countries to work together to prevent the resurgence of aggressive historical patterns.
The forum is taking place against a backdrop of rising regional tensions centred on Taiwan and the South China Sea, alongside growing uncertainty regarding American security pledges to Asia. The timing is notable, occurring a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump. Ahead of his formal remarks, Dong met with defence officials from Myanmar, Brunei, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General, to discuss expanding military cooperation and joint security arrangements.
Over the past two decades, China has developed the Xiangshan Forum into its flagship platform for military diplomacy, positioning it as a counterpart to Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue. The three-day event draws hundreds of military officers, diplomats, and scholars from numerous countries, providing Beijing with a prominent venue to promote a multipolar international order and amplify the representation of developing nations. A Chinese scholar at the forum separately warned that Japan’s increasing activities in the South China Sea pose potential long-term risks to regional stability.
Attendance at the gathering reflects the complex diplomatic balancing act required by various nations. Western governments sent lower-ranking officials, with the US represented by Pentagon official Cynthia Carras, while regional states attempting to manage relationships between Washington and Beijing dispatched senior defence leaders, including Vietnam’s Defence Minister and Malaysia’s Vice Defence Minister. A North Korean delegation also participated in the proceedings.
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