"Where is China?": Beijing's absence from the Singapore defense forum raises questions among delegates

The absence of senior Chinese officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum, has raised many questions among this year's participants. Several delegates in Singapore expressed surprise at China's low level of representation, given that its participation is usually considered central to this type of meeting.

For the second year in a row, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the conference. This absence deprives participants of direct exchanges with Beijing on key regional security issues, including maritime tensions and strategic rivalries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Instead of a high-level delegation, China sent a more discreet group of experts and academics affiliated with the People's Liberation Army. This choice is interpreted by several analysts as a desire to limit diplomatic confrontations and avoid sensitive questions about its defense policy.

Traditionally, the Shangri-La Dialogue is marked by high-level speeches from the Chinese Minister of Defense, who outlines Beijing's position on international issues. This year again, no such official speech was scheduled, a situation also observed in 2025.

China's absence was noted by several foreign officials, including US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who expressed his regret at not being able to speak directly with his Chinese counterpart. He stated that these meetings remain essential to reducing misunderstandings in a context where incidents at sea and in the air are frequent.

Some observers believe this relative withdrawal could reflect a strategy by Beijing to avoid potentially sensitive public discussions, while maintaining a more discreet presence in multilateral forums. Others, on the contrary, see it as a missed opportunity for direct dialogue in a regional context of persistent tensions.