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

As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to visit Washington for his first state visit in over a decade, Defence Minister Dong Jun opted for diplomacy at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. Dong's address to the security conference avoided contentious issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea - a marked departure from last year's speech.

Instead, Dong emphasized a call for a "new path to security based on dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance and win-win outcomes rather than zero-sum games." This marked a more measured tone compared to last year when Dong firmly stated that Taiwan's reunification with mainland China was an integral part of the post-war order.

Dong's offer to share China's military experience with foreign armed forces was a rare public gesture from the country's top defence officials, signaling Beijing's growing confidence in its military capabilities as it prepares for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army. At the same time, there are signs of improved defence ties between China and the United States, with stronger US-China military communication reported.

Dong described the global landscape as complex and stressed the urgent need to improve international security governance, urging countries to resist forces that use security as a bargaining chip.