China’s Defence Minister to skip Shangri-La Dialogue for second year

Mr Hegseth will address the forum this week.

China-US military ties remain tense, with limited and cautious efforts to rebuild communication channels after a cut-off in 2022 over then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the democratically governed island of Taiwan over which Beijing claims sovereignty.

Earlier in May, China’s Ministry of Defence said it is ready to work with the US side to strengthen dialogue, manage differences, build trust and dispel misgivings following a summit in Beijing.

“During US President Donald Trump’s visit to China, the Chinese and US defence chiefs exchanged views on relations between the two militaries and issues of common concern,” Mr Jiang said on May 28.

Mr Hegseth and Mr Dong were spotted chatting via interpreters at a state banquet held for Mr Trump in Beijing.

China began participating in the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2007 and has sent its defence minister a handful of times, including in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with defence ministers Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu and Dong Jun having travelled to Singapore for the event.

Mr Wei and Mr Li – Mr Dong’s predecessors – have both been purged in a widening anti-corruption campaign in the Chinese military. The pair were both sentenced to death ‌with a two-year reprieve earlier in May.

The Chinese delegation in 2026 is likely to face pointed questions at the forum about how sweeping corruption purges of senior officers are affecting the military’s combat readiness, foreign military attaches said. REUTERS