Beijing – Speaking to roughly 2,000 military officers, diplomats and scholars from about 100 nations at the three‑day Xiangshan Forum, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned that the world is at a “fragile moment” and called for an end to provocative acts that could inflame regional tensions.
Call for a balanced, peaceful approach
Dong’s opening remarks emphasized the need to remember history’s lessons and to stay vigilant against any resurgence of hegemony, militarism or historical revisionism. He urged participants to “rally broad‑based forces of justice” to suppress the resurgence of historical dregs and prevent them from exploiting the situation for personal gain or the interests of particular cliques.
The minister stressed that a peaceful, multipolar world should be built on partnership rather than alliance, and on win‑win outcomes rather than zero‑sum competition. He said the region must show no leniency toward actions that seek to hijack the overall interests of countries for narrow advantage.
Regional context and recent tensions
The remarks came amid heightened strain over China’s claim to Taiwan and ongoing disputes in the South China Sea. Relations with Japan have also soured after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response, prompting Beijing to accuse Japan of reviving its militarist past.
Despite the tense backdrop, Dong avoided direct criticism of the United States or its regional allies, instead reiterating long‑standing Chinese positions on sovereignty and non‑interference.
Upcoming summit with the United States
Dong’s speech preceded the anticipated summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, scheduled for next week in the United States. The meeting is expected to address a range of issues, including trade, security and the status of Taiwan, and could shape the trajectory of U.S.–China relations.
Analysts note that the forum provides a platform for China to showcase its expanding military diplomacy, which increasingly includes bilateral exercises of growing complexity. Participants this year included regional defence ministers, a senior Pentagon official, Russian academics and representatives from the Taliban.
Broader implications
While the Xiangshan Forum is less publicized than Singapore’s Shangri‑La Dialogue, it serves as a venue for China to articulate its security outlook and to engage with a diverse international audience. The minister’s call for restraint and historical awareness reflects Beijing’s desire to frame its actions as responsible and in line with a multipolar order, even as it continues to assert sovereignty over Taiwan and maintain a robust presence in contested waters.
Observers will watch closely how the upcoming Xi‑Trump summit addresses the concerns raised at the forum, particularly the balance between strategic competition and the pursuit of stable, mutually beneficial relations.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
