Chinese Defense Minister Expected to Skip Shangri-La Dialogue for Second Year

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is expected to skip the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore for the second year in a row. A lower-level People’s Liberation Army delegation will represent China at the regional security forum. The 23rd edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue opens on Friday and runs through Sunday.

The annual gathering brings together defense ministers, military chiefs, diplomats and analysts to discuss regional security issues.

China’s defense ministry has not responded to requests for comment and has not yet announced its delegation. One source said the delegation will come from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University. The plan remains fluid and could change at the last minute, according to people familiar with the matter. China typically confirms senior official travel only a day or two before events.

U.S. Participation U.S.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to deliver a speech on Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy on Saturday. The forum has served as a platform for Beijing to present its security positions and address concerns from other countries, particularly regarding the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.