The Chinese mainland's Ministry of National Defense announced that Minister Dong Jun will attend the annual Asia-Pacific premier defense summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore from May 31 to June 2.
During the summit, Dong is set to deliver a speech outlining China's global security concept and engage with heads of delegations from related countries. Experts predict a highly probable meeting between Dong and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, focusing on pressing regional security issues such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits situation.
This will mark their first formal talks since a video call in April, signaling a resumption of high-level military contacts following the two leaders' agreement to restart military dialogue during the November San Francisco meeting.
Experts believe that the discussions will aim to strengthen the China-U.S. military dialogue mechanism, ensuring effective communication at the theater level. Topics may include managing air and sea encounters, clarifying strategic intentions in the South China Sea, and addressing the Taiwan Straits situation to prevent misjudgments.
Additionally, the ministers may touch upon broader regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and non-traditional security challenges like arms control principles for artificial intelligence weapons and the militarized application of emerging technologies.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, serves as a pivotal platform for decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond to discuss critical security matters and collaborate on policy responses.
Experts emphasize that the summit's significance lies in fostering continuous and candid communication between China and the U.S., contributing to regional peace, preventing crises, and avoiding miscalculations among major powers.
Reference(s):
What will the Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs discuss in Singapore?
cgtn.com
