Update | North Korean nuclear programme to replace South China Sea as key issue at Asia Security Summit
China accused of sending a lower-level delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which starts on Friday
North Korea’s nuclear programme is likely to replace disputes over the South China Sea as the biggest talking point at the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore starting this Friday.
The three-day forum, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, is a platform for defence officials from some 50 Asia-Pacific states, including China, Japan, South Korea and Asean countries. It has in the past been the stage for airing South China Sea territorial disputes, but these have quieted down in recent months as Beijing has improved its relations with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbours.
However, the PLA delegation China is sending this year has raised some eyebrows. Over the past couple of years, Beijing has sent Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the Central Military Commission’s Joint Staff Department, to lead the Chinese delegation. Sun is part of the top PLA brass, responsible for intelligence and military diplomacy.
This time the Chinese military delegation consists of a group of defence researchers, instead of military personnel. It is led by Lieutenant General He Lei from the Academy of Military Science. He will make a speech on Saturday evening.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying denied China has downgraded the delegation after its relations became strained with Singapore following the seizure of its troop carriers in Hong Kong last year. The vehicles had taken part in training exercises in Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway Chinese province.