China has declined to send its defense minister to the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest defense and security forum, citing heightened tensions with the United States. Instead, a delegation from the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University will represent China, marking the first time in five years that a high-level delegation from Beijing will miss the summit.
This decision throws into question the possibility of a meeting between US and Chinese defense officials, particularly between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Chinese counterpart. Last year, then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun, and the two pledged to continue a US-China dialogue amid simmering military tensions over Taiwan and Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
A US defense official attributed China’s downgrading of its Shangri-La delegation to displeasure with Washington, stating, “They’re torqued at us.” The official further explained that China’s decision signals concern about the level of engagement with the US and uncertainty about the summit’s purpose. “It’s a signal that they are concerned about the level of engagement, specifically with the United States, to send a message that everything is not completely normal within that,” the official said.
Analysts suggest that China’s absence may indicate a shift in focus towards economics and trade in its foreign affairs. “While surely security engagements such as the SLD do matter in the broader scheme of geopolitics, at this juncture it seems regional governments are perhaps even more concerned about the tariff impact on their economies,” said Collin Koh, an RSIS research fellow.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized America’s commitment to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. During a visit to the Philippines, he stated, “We send the signal to our allies and partners, hey, here in the Indo Pacific, America’s here, and we’re not going anywhere. We’re here to deter adversaries who would seek us harm.” The US plans to conduct 120 bilateral or multilateral exercises in the Indo-Pacific this year.
In response to China’s decision, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, warned Washington against “conjuring up a powerful enemy for itself whether intentionally or unintentionally.” “Such imagination is not rational and extremely dangerous,” Zhang said. Drew Thompson, senior fellow at RSIS, noted that China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict has strained its relationship with Europe, making a public rebuke likely at the summit.