World
Chinese Defence Minister Calls for End to Provocative Acts at Beijing Xiangshan Forum
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun addressed the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Wednesday, urging countries to cease provocative acts and counter the resurgence of regressive historical trends. Dong's remarks, delivered at the forum's opening, were interpreted by some as veiled criticism of Japan. He advocated for a new, more inclusive approach to resolving international tensions, though he did not provide specific details or directly criticize any rivals.
Dong stated, "We must bear the lessons of history in mind and remain highly vigilant against all latent manifestations of hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism." He added, "We must not turn a blind eye or condone such behaviour. By rallying broad-based forces of justice, we must suppress the resurgence of historical dregs." The forum is taking place amidst heightened regional tensions concerning Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea, as well as increasing skepticism regarding traditional US security commitments in Asia. It also precedes an anticipated trip by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump.
Prior to his address, Dong met with defence officials from Myanmar, Brunei, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, as well as ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. In these separate meetings, he presented a vision for deeper military cooperation and shared security, setting the stage for the forum. Over the past two decades, Beijing has developed the Xiangshan Forum into its primary platform for military diplomacy, positioning it as an alternative to Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue. The three-day event gathers military officers, diplomats, and scholars from numerous countries, providing China with a platform to promote a multipolar world and advocate for a greater voice for the Global South.
As anticipated by some analysts, Dong did not directly criticize the United States or its regional allies, including Japan. Relations between China and Japan deteriorated last year after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response. Beijing views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has increased military pressure around the island, including staging war games. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's claims of sovereignty.
Earlier, Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, attending the forum, warned that Japan's increasing involvement in the South China Sea could undermine regional peace in the long term. Wu told the Chinese news agency CNS, "I think that, from a longer-term perspective, Japan could be more damaging to peace and stability in the South China Sea than the United States." He cautioned that Japan views the waterway as a means to attack and invade Southeast Asia and control sea lanes. Wu added that Tokyo's actions would negatively impact dispute resolution, maritime cooperation, and consultations on a Code of Conduct, emphasizing the need for regional states to remain vigilant.
Western governments have largely sent lower-level representatives to the forum, with the US contingent led by senior Pentagon official Cynthia Carras. In contrast, neighboring countries seeking to manage relations between Washington and Beijing sent top defence leadership, including Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang and Malaysian Vice Defence Minister Adly Zahari. A delegation from North Korea's Ministry of National Defence, led by Vice Minister Kim Kang Il, is also attending, according to KCNA.