Dong Jun Calls for Dialogue Over Confrontation at Xiangshan Forum

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun delivered a keynote address to the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Wednesday, calling for a new security approach built on dialogue rather than confrontation just over a week before President Xi Jinping’s planned summit with US President Donald Trump.

In his 20-minute address, Dong outlined China’s goals for global governance, multilateralism, conflict prevention and emerging technology. He warned that a “zero-sum mindset” could not resolve today’s problems and described international security as remaining “fragile.”

Dong urged countries to build security around “dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win outcomes rather than zero-sum games” — a formulation Beijing has long used to criticise Washington’s military alliances as bloc confrontation. He said that “the causes of disputes cannot be resolved by force.”

He called on major powers to shoulder their responsibilities and for the international community to oppose the formation of exclusive blocs. Countries should heed “the lessons of history and remain highly vigilant against hegemonism,” he said, urging that minor disagreements be prevented from escalating into major frictions.

Dong said the Chinese armed forces were willing to share their experience of military governance as the People’s Liberation Army approaches its centenary goal, and that Beijing could, “within our capacity,” help other countries develop their militaries through joint exercises, personnel training and equipment cooperation.

The minister singled out artificial intelligence, outer space and the deep sea as fields requiring cooperation between countries, so that emerging technologies could “better benefit all humanity.” He did not mention Taiwan directly, a departure from last year’s address in which he called Taiwan’s return “an integral part of the post-war order.” He also made no direct reference to the South China Sea or Japan.

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University and a retired PLA senior colonel, described Dong’s tone as “relatively mild.” “Not mentioning Taiwan does not mean that China is less concerned with the issue,” Zhou said.

The Xiangshan Forum, which many regard as Beijing’s counterpart to Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, is marking its 20th anniversary. The three-day event runs from Tuesday to Thursday and drew about 200 specialists and researchers, alongside defence officials, former politicians and think tank experts from around the world.

The forum comes a week before Xi’s summit with Trump in Washington on September 24.

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