Beijing Defense Forum Opens Amid Regional Tensions

Beijing is set to host the three-day Xiangshan Forum on Tuesday, an event that has become a central stage for China to project its military influence and articulate its vision for global security. According to GN auto geopolitics/asia-pacific: Taiwan tensions, the gathering is expected to feature a speech by Defense Minister Dong Jun, who will likely advocate for closer international cooperation within a multipolar framework. While the official tone aims at diplomacy, diplomats and analysts suggest the address will also contain pointed critiques of the United States and its allies, serving as a counter-narrative to Western-led security architectures.

The forum serves as a direct Chinese counterpart to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, attracting hundreds of military officers, diplomats, and scholars from dozens of nations. However, the dynamics of this year’s meeting are complicated by the planned visit of President Xi Jinping to Washington later this month to meet President Donald Trump. Several Asian envoys indicate that overt criticism of the US may be tempered to preserve the atmosphere for upcoming high-level negotiations, shifting the rhetorical focus toward other regional actors where tensions are currently more acute.

Rhetorical Targets Shift Toward Tokyo

With Washington likely to be treated with diplomatic caution, Japan is expected to become a primary target of Chinese rhetoric. Singapore-based security scholar James Char anticipates that Chinese hosts will leverage the platform to highlight Japan’s wartime history and criticize what Beijing describes as Tokyo’s remilitarization. This approach allows China to frame its own defense posture as a necessary response to perceived regional threats while avoiding direct confrontation with the US ahead of the presidential summit.

The absence of Taiwan from the forum underscores the deepening divide between the two sides, with China viewing the democratically governed island as part of its territory. Despite recent military drills conducted by Taiwan’s forces, the event remains a closed circuit for the island, highlighting the persistent friction in cross-strait relations that continues to define the security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.

Delegations Balance Competing Security Interests

The composition of delegations reflects the complex web of alliances and rivalries in the region. Western nations are generally represented by mid-level officials, such as the US delegation led by Pentagon principal director Cynthia Carras. In contrast, several regional neighbors are sending senior figures, including Vietnam’s Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and Malaysia’s Deputy Defense Minister Adly Zahari. These countries are increasingly caught between maintaining their traditional defense ties with the US and managing the economic and strategic weight of their powerful neighbor, China.

Patricia Kim, an expert at the Brookings Institution, notes that while doubts about US security commitments may create an opening for Beijing to argue for Asian-led defense management, China’s own assertive behavior in the South China Sea limits its ability to fully capitalize on this sentiment. Many Asian nations remain skeptical of Chinese intentions, particularly regarding maritime disputes, which complicates any straightforward shift in regional security alignment.

Leadership Transitions Shape Strategic Outlook

Beyond immediate geopolitical tensions, the forum offers a unique window into the internal dynamics of the People’s Liberation Army. With the Communist Party’s congress scheduled for next year, the event provides foreign delegates with opportunities to engage with potential members of the next generation of PLA leadership. Observers note that ongoing internal purges within the military have created uncertainty, making these interactions crucial for assessing how China’s command structure and strategic doctrine may evolve in the coming years.

As the forum concludes, the focus will turn to the diplomatic outcomes of the upcoming US-China summit and the subsequent reactions from regional partners. The ability of Beijing to project stability while managing internal military reforms will be a key indicator of its broader strategic trajectory in the multipolar world.