China Defence Chief Snubs Shangri-la Dialogue Amid Taiwan Tensions | Firstpost Live

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]China has once again decided to skip one of Asia's biggest security summits.

[00:00:05]Beijing has confirmed that Defense Minister Dong Jun will not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this year.

[00:00:13]Instead, China is sending a smaller delegation made up of military scholars, naval officials, and research experts linked to the People's Liberation Army.

[00:00:23]This is now the second year in a row that China's Defense Minister has stayed away from the high-profile event.

[00:00:30]The Shangri-La Dialogue is considered Asia's most important defense and security forum, bringing together military chiefs, defense ministers, and strategic experts from around 45 countries. The Shangri-La Dialogue mainly focuses on Asian security. Wars in Ukraine and West Asia are also dominating discussions. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major global concern after Iran moved to disrupt shipping through the critical oil routes. The event has often provided rare face-to-face moments between top Chinese and American military leaders.

[00:01:04]But this year, there will be no formal meeting between China's defense chief and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

[00:01:11]And the timing is significant. The Shangri-La Dialogue comes just weeks after US President Donald Trump visited China. After that visit, Trump spoke about positive trade discussions with Beijing. Trump also suggested that US arms sales to Taiwan could become part of a wider negotiation with China. A comment that has attracted global attention.

[00:01:33]The two sides continue to discuss Taiwan, military activity in the Indo-Pacific, and Donald Trump's war in West Asia. Now, another big question at this summit is whether the US will continue its strong support for Taiwan.

[00:01:47]Last year at the same forum, Hegseth described China as a major security challenge in the Indo-Pacific region. He also called on America's Asian allies to increase their defense spending. Those remarks didn't go down well in Beijing.

[00:02:02]China accused Washington of creating tensions and attacking its image on the global stage. This year, Hegseth is expected to deliver another strong speech with many analysts believing China will remain a central focus of his message.

[00:02:17]And ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited American troops aboard the USS Boxer in Singapore.

[00:02:24]Hegseth was seen taking part in physical training exercises with service members, running and doing push-ups alongside the troops.

[00:02:33]>> And as the president said, I lost on time, 2 days ago now, in the cabinet meeting, sitting right next to him, he looks in the camera and he says, "Well, Iran, can you do it the right way with a deal across the table, or can you do it with my guy on the left?"

[00:02:50]That happened to be me.

[00:02:52]But it's not me, it's you guys.

[00:02:57]>> Well, another reason why China's absence is drawing attention is an internal crisis inside the Chinese military. Two of China's former defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were recently handed suspended death sentences in a massive anti-corruption campaign inside the People's Liberation Army.

[00:03:18]>> For one thing, China has truly arrived as a major power in the region. So, it does not really need to send its defense minister to brave a fusillade of questions and try to score brownie points.

[00:03:31]>> And these developments have raised serious questions about stability, trust, and combat readiness inside China's military. Analysts say China's delegation at the Shangri-La Dialogue is likely to face tough questions about how these purges are impacting the PLA's operations and long-term strategy. At the same time, many experts believe China no longer feels the need to use the summit to prove its influence. Some strategic observers argue that Beijing now sees itself as a fully established major power. And this year's Shangri-La dialogue is also putting Vietnam in the global spotlight. Vietnamese leader To Lam opened the summit with a keynote address as Hanoi tries to balance its relationships with both China and the United States.

[00:04:17]Vietnam has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, but at the same time, Beijing remains its biggest trading partner. On the other hand, the United States is Vietnam's largest export market and has been pushing to expand defense and strategic ties with Hanoi.

[00:04:34]This delicate balancing act is now being closely watched by global powers as competition in the Indo-Pacific continues to intensify.

[00:04:43]For now, China's decision to send only a lower-level team is being viewed very carefully by defense experts across the region. Beijing's absence from Asia's top security summit is also likely to raise fresh questions about how China plans to manage its relationship with the United States.

[00:05:01]>> The world doesn't fit in boxes, so why should your news?

[00:05:06]From battlefields to negotiation tables, from internet outrage to real-world [music] injustice.

[00:05:14]The conversations everyone is having and the ones they're avoiding. It's the same show, but this new year, Firstpost America gets a new look. I'm Kerry Donston and this is Firstpost America.

[00:05:51]>> Mhm.