Post by : Shakul

China has confirmed that it will once again skip sending its defence minister to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s most influential security summit, choosing instead to dispatch a delegation of military experts and scholars to represent the country.

The annual Shangri-La Dialogue begins in Singapore this week and is widely regarded as one of the most important defence and security forums in the Asia-Pacific region. The summit regularly brings together defence ministers, military officials, diplomats, and security experts from around the world for high-level discussions on regional stability and global security issues.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun will not attend the summit for the second consecutive year. China’s Ministry of National Defence announced that the country would be represented by a delegation led by Major General Meng Xiangqing from the National Defence University.

According to Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin, the delegation will include experts and scholars from the National Defence University, the Academy of Military Sciences, and the Chinese Navy. Officials stated that the group would explain China’s security concepts and regional cooperation initiatives during the conference.

Jiang Bin said China remains committed to defence and security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and continues to support dialogue and communication between countries. He added that the delegation would work to improve mutual trust, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation among regional partners.

The absence of Dong Jun has attracted international attention, especially after reports in 2024 claimed that he had faced a corruption investigation. Chinese authorities previously dismissed those reports as false and described them as “pure fabrications.”

This year’s summit is expected to feature major discussions on regional tensions, military cooperation, maritime security, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts. United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is among the top officials scheduled to attend the event.

The Shangri-La Dialogue has historically served as a rare platform where senior military leaders from rival nations can hold direct face-to-face meetings. Analysts say China’s decision not to send its defence minister may limit opportunities for high-level defence diplomacy during the forum.

China also hosts its own international defence gathering known as the Xiangshan Forum, often viewed as Beijing’s alternative to the Shangri-La Dialogue. The event is used by China to present its own security perspectives and strengthen military engagement with international partners.

#Singapore News #China #Defence #World News