China Absent from Shangri-La Dialogue as US Dominates Asian Security Forum

The most prestigious Asian security forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially opened on Friday, 29 May 2026, in Singapore. However, the main focus was on the absence of senior Chinese military officials amid rising regional tensions over Taiwan and the Middle East conflict. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was scheduled as the keynote speaker for the three-day event, while Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun opted not to attend for the second consecutive year. Analysts view Beijing’s move as a sign of China’s growing confidence as a major power distancing itself from Western-led forums. Vietnam’s leader, To Lam, in his opening speech on Friday evening, urged participants to use the dialogue as an effective risk-reduction instrument, stressing that the Shangri-La Dialogue should not merely be a stage for reiterating national positions. ‘Competition must be constrained by law, guided by transparency, and conducted with restraint,’ Lam stated. Although not explicitly naming the US or China, he called for responsible commitments from influential nations both within and outside the region. Regarding the South China Sea dispute, Lam affirmed Vietnam’s clear, consistent, and principled stance. As the newly elected president and Communist Party leader, Lam is now considered Vietnam’s most powerful leader in decades. Dong Jun’s absence dashed hopes for a face-to-face meeting with Hegseth, despite Washington seeking to test Beijing’s commitment to Taiwan stability and support for de-escalating tensions in Iran. Instead, China sent a delegation of military experts and academics led by Major General Meng Xiangqing from the National Defence University. William Choong, senior researcher at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said China’s absence reflects its strengthened bargaining position. ‘China has firmly established itself as a regional power, thus feeling no need to send its defence minister to face critical questions,’ he noted. However, other analysts pointed to internal factors. Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, are currently facing suspended death sentences over corruption charges. ‘Being China’s defence minister and speaking publicly now is like holding a cup of poison,’ said Jennifer Parker, professor at the University of Western Australia. Beyond US-China tensions, the forum also hosted defence ministers from the AUKUS alliance (US, UK, Australia), widely seen as a bulwark against Chinese military expansion in the Asia-Pacific. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles expressed concerns over China’s massive military build-up without adequate strategic assurances. Australian media reported that AUKUS nations may announce new major projects at the forum, including the development of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).