{
  "id": 7976427,
  "title": "Periods of great change must spur countries to work together: Chan Chun Sing at Xiangshan Forum in Beijing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/periods-of-great-change-must-spur-countries-to-work-together-chan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T07:42:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/09/chan-chun-sing-2026-xiangshan-forum/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 16, Singapore's Defence Minister and Coordinating Minister for Public Services, Chan Chun Sing, addressed the 13th Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China. The forum is a defense and security forum hosted by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies, serving as a Track 1.5 platform for Asia-Pacific security dialogue. Chan spoke about the current period of great change and urged countries to \"work together to shape the world we want to see\", emphasizing Singapore's welcome for China's aspiration to be a \"responsible major country.\"\n\nChan highlighted the evolving distribution of power, both technologically and economically, shaping and reshaping perceptions of relative power. The world faced shared challenges in enhancing a country's security without being perceived as threatening others or aggravating insecurity. Chan shared three principles to navigate uncertain times: the first being that domestic stability and external security are mutually reinforcing; the second being that interdependence breeds stability; and the third being to \"first do no harm.\"\n\nTo build trust, Chan emphasized the importance of consistency, as trust is vital but brittle, easily lost in a single instant. He advised countries to consider how shifts in relative power alter perceptions, with great powers shouldering high expectations and responsibilities. Chan proposed three practical suggestions to overcome the modern security dilemma: altering perceptions, building trust through strategic patience, and creating value together.\n\nChan concluded by acknowledging that periods of great change can be daunting, yet they offer an opportunity for countries to work together in shaping the world they desire. He welcomed China's aspiration to be a \"responsible major country\" and credited China's reform and opening up for transforming lives and contributing to regional and global prosperity.",
  "summary": "This was Chan's second appearance at the Asia-Pacific security forum.",
  "key_points": [
    "Chan Chun Sing urges countries to work together during a period of great change",
    "Highlights evolving power distribution and shared security challenges"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}