Chinese defence chief skirts flashpoints at Xiangshan Forum ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Wu Shicun, founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, suggested on Tuesday that China should utilize its maritime militia as an additional force in the South China Sea. This proposal was made during the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a defense gathering. Wu Shicun's recommendation is for the militia to be employed for information gathering and to establish a consistent presence in the region. This suggestion comes amidst ongoing conflicts between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The forum itself was attended by security officials and researchers from approximately 100 countries.

At the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun called for an end to provocative acts and the resurgence of regressive historical trends. Speaking on Wednesday, Dong advocated for shared security governance and military cooperation, while warning against coercion. He urged vigilance against hegemony, militarism, and historical revisionism, without directly naming any countries. The forum takes place amidst regional tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Dong also met with defense officials from several countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General, promoting deeper military cooperation and shared security. The Beijing Xiangshan Forum serves as China's main platform for military diplomacy.

China is hosting its significant annual defense conference, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, in Beijing this week. The three-day event, celebrating its 20th anniversary, brings together approximately 200 defense officials, former politicians, and think tank experts from around the world. This forum is widely viewed as China's response to Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue. The conference is taking place amid a series of high-profile diplomatic events, occurring a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping's summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington.