Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun’s address to a defence gathering in Beijing on Wednesday carried a message for Washington but it was delivered in a notably softer, less critical tone, according to a retired senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army.
Zhou Bo, now a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, said Dong’s tone was “relatively mild”, even as the Chinese defence minister made veiled references to the US and its actions in the Middle East.
The address comes just a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned trip to the US and as US officials laud improved military-to-military communication between the two powers.
In his speech at the Xiangshan Forum, Dong urged countries to build a new security approach based on dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnership instead of alliance – a reference to Washington’s military alliances that Beijing has long criticised as bloc confrontation.
He also called on major countries to shoulder their responsibility, and for the international community to oppose actions that involved forming exclusive blocs.
As Washington presses on with strikes against Tehran, piling pressure on Iran to seek an end to a conflict now in its seventh month, Dong said that “the causes of disputes cannot be resolved by force”.
Dong also said the Chinese armed forces were willing to share their experience of military governance as the PLA approached its centenary goal next year to become a strong force.
He added that Beijing could – within its capacity – help others in need of developing their armed forces.
According to Zhou, the move reflected Beijing’s growing confidence in its military, noting that China had sought to ramp up efforts on this front.
At last year’s conference, Dong also refrained from naming particular countries, including the US, but he described military alliances as groups with “selfish interests” and urged nations to stand up against “disguised hegemonic logic and bullying acts”.
Dong did not mention Taiwan in his speech. Last year, he said the return of Taiwan to China was “an integral part of the post-war order”.
Zhou noted that US defence chief Pete Hegseth had also avoided mentioning Taiwan in his speech at the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore earlier this year.
“Not mentioning Taiwan does not mean that China is less concerned with the issue,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that China is not paying attention to it.”
Taiwan remains a core interest to Beijing and the issue is expected to be raised again by Xi when he sits down with Trump next week.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited with force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Dong singled out AI, outer space and the deep seas as three fields requiring communication and cooperation between countries. China and the US have seen a growing rivalry in AI and space technology.
Dong said conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, and that countries should bear in mind “the lessons of history and remain highly vigilant against hegemonism”, and prevent minor disagreements from escalating to major frictions.
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University of China, said Dong used his address to underline some of China’s long-held positions, including its opposition to the US forming closed alliances with Western countries to target China and its partners.
He said Beijing’s offer to help build up other militaries signalled its ambition to expand its military influence globally but added that few countries beyond some developing nations were likely to take it up. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
