Set against a shifting global security landscape, the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum convened this week in Beijing to explore the theme of Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development. Against the backdrop of landmark 80th anniversaries, leaders from around the world sought fresh insights on safeguarding peace and fostering growth.
As we mark 80 years since the end of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, participants zeroed in on how to preserve the post-war order and build a shared future. The forum’s theme underscored the urgency of upholding historical truths while driving forward collective progress.
A ballast stone for peace: At the opening ceremony on September 18—a day also remembered as the Mukden Incident in 1931—Chinese defense minister Dong Jun called on attendees to defend historical justice and forge the broadest possible consensus. He pledged that the Chinese military would serve as a ballast stone for peace, contributing positive energy to long-term stability.
Dong also highlighted that Taiwan returning to China is a key component of the post-war international order. He pointed to the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation—agreements among China, the U.S. and Britain in the 1940s—that underscored Japan’s obligation to restore Taiwan to China.
Framing military strength as a deterrent rather than a threat, he stressed: "As a force for peace, the stronger China’s military grows, the greater its capacity to deter war becomes."
For young global citizens navigating today’s security challenges—on land, cyber and across the Taiwan Strait—the forum’s call to balance historical insight with constructive dialogue offers a roadmap for peaceful development in 2025 and beyond.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
