Chinese defense chief’s absence at Shangri-La Dialogue is noticeable: Singapore

ISTANBUL

Singapore’s Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Saturday that Chinese Defense Chief Dong Jun’s absence was noted at the key annual defense and security event in Singapore, and that he would have preferred to see him attend to avoid misunderstandings.

“I think it would be fair to say that most, if not everyone around the table, would have hoped for the presence of the Chinese delegation because the Shangri-La Dialogue has continued to grow over all these years. The participation has continued to grow, and that’s because many people found it useful; a useful platform to exchange perspectives,” Chan said.

A delegation from the National Defense University of the Chinese army attended the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in place of Dong, who regularly participated in the dialogue between 2019 and 2024.

“It is only through dialogues that we can have this clarity of one another’s intention, and that is very useful,” Chan said while emphasizing the platform’s importance for minimizing any misinterpretations.

Singapore’s defense chief said that while he cannot speak for China, Beijing’s participation is up to their “own considerations,” however, they are welcome to participate in “future dialogues.”

Chan encouraged all defense ministers to “continue to reach out to China.”

“And I’m sure China, in its own time, will also want to reach out to the rest of the world because I think it’s important for all sides to try to reach out to one another to better understand one another so that we minimize the chances of misunderstanding or misreading each other’s intent,” Chan said.

Top defense chiefs such as Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth were among the attendees of the Shangri-La Dialogue summit, which is held annually in Singapore and serves as a significant platform for defense and security discussions in the Asia-Pacific region.

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