BEIJING — China refrained from openly criticizing the United States at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, its own multilateral security conference, while delivering a hard-line message to Japan about the need to guard against militarism and historical revisionism. Analysts said Beijing is managing relations with Washington ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump set for the 24th in Washington, D.C., while keeping up pressure on Tokyo.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said in a keynote address at the forum's opening ceremony at the Beijing International Convention Center on the 16th that improving global security governance was urgent at a time of fragile international security and mounting challenges. "We must move toward a new path of security based on dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliances, and win-win outcomes rather than zero-sum games," he said. Much of the speech was devoted to the argument that global security disputes should be resolved through multilateralism and dialogue.
Notably, there was almost no direct criticism of the United States. At last year's forum, Dong took aim at the U.S.-led international order with phrases such as "disorderly multipolarity" and "the internationalization of the jungle," and warned that China would thwart outside military intervention over Taiwan. He also publicly criticized the "freedom of navigation" principle championed by the United States and others in the South China Sea. This year, however, he made no direct mention of the United States, Taiwan, the South China Sea, or the ongoing U.S.-Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars.
By contrast, remarks widely read as aimed at Japan were pointed. "We must take the lessons of history to heart and maintain a high level of vigilance against all potential variants of hegemonism, militarism and historical revisionism," Dong said. "We must gather the broad forces of justice to prevent the remnants left by history from resurfacing, gaining strength and becoming a source of trouble." He did not name Japan, but foreign media reported that the remarks were interpreted as directed at Tokyo given China's recent friction with Japan.
The Xiangshan Forum, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, is a leading multilateral security conference led by China. It began in 2006 but has not been held every year, making this year's event the 13th edition.
The forum is seen as a counterpart to the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Asia security conference held annually in Singapore under the auspices of Britain's International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), and is also known as China's version of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
This year's forum, running from the 15th to the 17th, drew official delegations from about 100 countries, regions and international organizations, along with experts from China and abroad. The United States was represented by a senior director-level official from its Defense Department, also known as the Department of War, according to reports. North Korea sent Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il as head of its delegation. China's Defense Ministry said more than 60 participants were of ministerial rank or above, or held posts equivalent to chief of staff or higher. "Participants will discuss key agenda items including the international order and strategic stability, solutions to regional conflicts, Asia-Pacific security, the role of developing countries, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging military technologies," the ministry said.
