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China dials down rhetoric but regional risks persist at Shangri-La Dialogue
In the wake of the Xi-Trump summit, the US and Chinese delegations dispense with the tough talk of previous years
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The world faces challenges from “hegemonism” and “bloc confrontation” driven by “certain countries”, China’s delegation to Asia’s premier security conference said on Saturday, without directly naming the United States.
Major General Meng Xiangqing, the head of the Chinese delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, sent the warning during a special session on managing threats to strategic stability.
Meng, a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University, also used the session to respond to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks earlier in the day on Washington’s security focus in the region.
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“I noticed that Hegseth mentioned in his speech the recent meeting between the Chinese and US leaders in Beijing and the consensus reached there,” Meng said.
“We also hope that China and the United States will move towards each other ... promote the development of military-to-military relations along a healthy, stable and sustainable path.”
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In his comments, the general avoided the kind of sharp criticism of the United States that characterised the Chinese delegation’s responses last year.
Similarly, Hegseth took a softer line on China than he did last year.
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