China will once again skip sending its defence minister to Asia’s premier security gathering in Singapore, raising fresh questions about Beijing’s military diplomacy and regional strategy amid rising tensions with the United States and its allies.
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China has confirmed that Defence Minister Dong Jun will not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this year, marking the second consecutive year Beijing’s top military official has skipped Asia’s most important defence summit.
Instead, China announced it would send a delegation of military experts and scholars led by Major General Meng Xiangqing of the National Defence University.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, which begins Friday in Singapore, is considered Asia’s leading international security forum and regularly brings together defence ministers, military chiefs and strategic experts from around the world.
The event has traditionally served as a rare platform for direct talks between senior US and Chinese defence officials. This year, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to attend.
China’s decision to avoid sending Defence Minister Dong Jun has sparked speculation among analysts about Beijing’s growing discomfort with Western-led security forums and rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin defended the move, saying Beijing “attaches great importance to defence and security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region” and remains committed to dialogue and regional cooperation.
“The experts and scholars dispatched for this visit will comprehensively articulate China’s concepts and initiatives, striving to enhance mutual trust, dispel doubts, build consensus and deepen cooperation,” Jiang said.
Dong Jun also skipped the summit last year after reports emerged that he was under investigation for corruption — allegations that Chinese authorities strongly denied as “pure fabrications.”
Security experts believe China may now prefer alternative diplomatic platforms that are more closely aligned with its strategic interests. Beijing hosts its own Xiangshan Forum, often described as China’s answer to the Shangri-La Dialogue.
The absence of China’s defence minister comes at a sensitive time for the region, with tensions continuing over Taiwan, the South China Sea and military competition between Washington and Beijing.
Analysts say the move could further deepen concerns among neighbouring Asian countries seeking greater military transparency and direct communication between the world’s two largest powers.
For many observers, the bigger question is no longer why China skipped the summit once — but why it appears increasingly comfortable staying away.
