https://www.scmp.com/rss/518927/feed Admiral Dong Jun was appointed as China’s defence minister in December 2023, after his predecessor Li Shangfu was sacked months after he took up the role. Dong is the country’s first defence minister with a navy background. He has yet to be given the rank of state councillor or a seat on the decision-making Central Military Commission, roles that all previous defence ministers have taken on. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Despite land reclamation efforts in the fiercely contested South China Sea, an unusual silence has fallen between Beijing and Hanoi over their rival claims. Observers said this suggested both sides were prioritising pragmatism to keep tensions in check. In March, months into reports suggesting continued Chinese dredging activities at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, Hanoi broke its silence by lodging a protest with Beijing over what it called “illegal and invalid” foreign... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348763/why-china-and-vietnam-are-shifting-confrontation-calm-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:01:08 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The navies of China and Vietnam have added live-fire drills to future joint training – marking a deepening of military cooperation as Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam hailed relations with Beijing as a “top priority”. Naval commanders from both sides held a courtesy meeting on Monday at Fangcheng port in southern China’s Guangxi, as Vietnamese frigates Tran Hung Dao (hull number 015) and Ly Thai To (012) arrived to join PLA Navy vessels for their 40th joint patrol and training... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346907/china-vietnam-agree-live-fire-drills-naval-exercise-boost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346907/china-vietnam-agree-live-fire-drills-naval-exercise-boost?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:24:28 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Chinese and Vietnamese personnel will carry out a joint naval patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin this week, extending a practice that has continued despite long-standing competing maritime claims. The joint manoeuvres will take place as part of the China-Vietnam Border Defence Friendship Exchange, which will include medical and cultural exchange events, China’s defence ministry said on Sunday. They will be conducted in waters off China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346656/joint-patrols-china-vietnam-steers-course-between-two-powers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China and Vietnam are to hold their first high-level ministerial talks under a new platform next week. This comes as the neighbours seek to cement their strategic alignment despite heightened tensions over Beijing’s purported new land reclamation work in the disputed South China Sea. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong and Defence Minister Dong Jun will be in Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday to meet their respective... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346539/will-paracels-dispute-overshadow-china-and-vietnams-drive-stronger-strategic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346539/will-paracels-dispute-overshadow-china-and-vietnams-drive-stronger-strategic-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Amber Wang,Alcott Wei Amber Wang,Alcott Wei The Chinese defence minister has signalled strategic caution with his call for the country to “shape” a stable environment for Beijing’s broader political and diplomatic agenda, according to analysts. Dong Jun made the call on Friday during a group discussion involving military and armed police lawmakers at the country’s annual legislative gathering in Beijing. According to meeting minutes released to the media, Dong stressed four times in his fewer than 400-word remarks that the military’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346113/stability-comes-first-chinese-defence-chief-signals-beijings-strategic-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346113/stability-comes-first-chinese-defence-chief-signals-beijings-strategic-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:32 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun urged closer strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow and bolstering joint capacity to respond to risks and challenges in a video call with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday. Dong told Andrei Belousov that Beijing was willing to “enrich the substance of cooperation, improve communication and exchange mechanisms, jointly enhance the ability to respond to various risks and challenges and work hand in hand to inject positive energy into global security... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341451/china-and-russia-bolster-defence-ties-counter-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341451/china-and-russia-bolster-defence-ties-counter-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:13:55 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han Senior US and Chinese defence officials met in Washington this week in the latest sign of renewed military-to-military communication as the two countries seek to stabilise ties. Alvaro Smith, a deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the Pentagon, met with China’s Major General Ye Jiang, Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation, for the 19th annual US-China Defence Policy Coordination Talks from December 15... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3336686/senior-us-and-chinese-defence-officials-meet-military-military-dialogue-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3336686/senior-us-and-chinese-defence-officials-meet-military-military-dialogue-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:58:15 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The head of the de facto US embassy in Taiwan has invited new Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun to visit the United States, stressing that avoiding war is the top priority. The invitation from Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), came during an in-person meeting at the KMT headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, according to a statement from Taiwan’s largest opposition party. The KMT – considered friendlier to Beijing than the ruling Democratic Progressive... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332676/us-invites-kmt-chief-cheng-li-wun-washington-stresses-priority-avoid-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332676/us-invites-kmt-chief-cheng-li-wun-washington-stresses-priority-avoid-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:00:20 +0000 Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Neil Denslow,Raymond Ma Beijing and Seoul are partners that “cannot be separated”, President Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jae-myung, in their first meeting since the latter took office in June. The two met for an hour on Saturday on the sidelines of the Apec summit in South Korea at the Gyeongju National Museum, the same venue where Lee and US President Donald Trump finalised a US-South Korean trade deal last week. The US agreed to give Seoul the technology to build its first nuclear submarine,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331334/us-china-rivalry-leaves-asia-walking-g2-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3331334/us-china-rivalry-leaves-asia-walking-g2-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:00:31 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun Beijing and Washington may be set to revive dormant military communication channels, but it is just a first step and the two sides are still some way from genuine trust, an observer has cautioned. The assessment followed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement on social media on Sunday that the two countries had “agreed that we should set up military-to-military channels to deconflict and de-escalate any problems that arise”. Hegseth met his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331226/china-us-set-revive-military-channels-more-steps-needed-build-trust-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331226/china-us-set-revive-military-channels-more-steps-needed-build-trust-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:00:11 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Beijing has protested to Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s contact with a former senior Taiwanese politician on the sidelines of the Apec summit in South Korea, describing the action as “egregious”. Takaichi posted photos of herself meeting Lin Hsin-i on social media on Friday and Saturday, referring to him as “senior adviser to the Presidential Office of Taiwan”. In the comments she said she hoped the “practical cooperation between Japan and Taiwan will deepen”. In a statement... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331214/egregious-beijing-criticises-new-japanese-pm-takaichi-meeting-taiwanese-official?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331214/egregious-beijing-criticises-new-japanese-pm-takaichi-meeting-taiwanese-official?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 07:01:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US does not seek conflict, Hegseth says in meeting with Chinese defence minister US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun in person for the first time on Friday, with both sides saying they are pushing for peace a day after a summit between their presidents brought tensions down. 2. In an international win for China’s C919,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331106/us-china-defence-talks-c919s-win-brunei-more-xi-trump-summits-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3331106/us-china-defence-talks-c919s-win-brunei-more-xi-trump-summits-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:15:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, in person for the first time on Friday, with both sides stressing a commitment to peace. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Malaysia and came a day after a US-China summit eased tensions between the two countries. Dong and Hegseth held a conference call in September but the talks on Friday were the first face-to-face meeting between the defence ministers of China and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331077/us-does-not-seek-conflict-hegseth-says-meeting-chinese-defence-minister-dong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331077/us-does-not-seek-conflict-hegseth-says-meeting-chinese-defence-minister-dong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:39:46 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen Beijing marked the anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic by reasserting its position on Taiwan and describing attempts by the United States and other Western nations to expand Taiwan’s presence in international organisations as “a gross violation” of the global order. In a position paper reaffirming support for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 on Tuesday, Beijing’s foreign ministry criticised what it said was Washington’s history of obstructing Beijing’s admission... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327506/beijing-reasserts-taiwan-position-rebukes-west-gross-violation-global-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327506/beijing-reasserts-taiwan-position-rebukes-west-gross-violation-global-order?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:29:32 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Iran has recalled its ambassadors to Britain, France and Germany, according to its state media. The move came hours after the UN Security Council voted down a resolution backed by China and Russia seeking to prevent the reimposition of global sanctions against the Islamic republic. China and Russia tabled a draft resolution on Friday aimed at halting the snapback mechanism under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015. This mechanism, initiated by the United Kingdom, France and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327091/iran-recalls-envoys-uk-france-and-germany-after-china-backed-un-resolution-fails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3327091/iran-recalls-envoys-uk-france-and-germany-after-china-backed-un-resolution-fails?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:14:03 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim A lack of military-to-military communication between the United States and China “is dangerous” and could lead to miscalculation and “larger problems”, a US lawmaker from the House Armed Services Committee said after meeting Chinese officials, including Defence Minister Dong Jun. Adam Smith, the committee’s top Democrat and former chairman, said Beijing needed to understand that it must have greater engagement with other large militaries – including the US – given its fast-rising military... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326487/us-lawmaker-china-warns-lack-communication-between-big-militaries-dangerous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326487/us-lawmaker-china-warns-lack-communication-between-big-militaries-dangerous?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:24:57 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Bochen Han Seong Hyeon Choi,Bochen Han Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has urged members of the US Congress to take “constructive and pragmatic measures” to improve relations between the two militaries. A bipartisan delegation met Dong and Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Monday, a day after they met Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. “I hope you members of Congress can exclude disruptive measures and take constructive and pragmatic measures to contribute to the improvement of relations between the two militaries and promote US and Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326416/visiting-us-lawmakers-meet-chinese-premier-and-defence-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326416/visiting-us-lawmakers-meet-chinese-premier-and-defence-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:30:44 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen The US’ waning interest in regional relations and its weakening ties with India are eroding American-led alliances in Asia, creating openings for China, a prominent Japanese defence researcher has warned. Masayuki Masuda, head of the China division at Japan’s National Institute for Defence Studies, a research body under the Ministry of Defence, said the shift was already affecting key groupings such as the Quad and raising alarm in Tokyo. “[Regional alliances] are one of the biggest sources of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326202/why-japan-worried-about-decline-us-ties-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326202/why-japan-worried-about-decline-us-ties-india?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 02:00:30 +0000 Haining Gao,Neil Denslow Haining Gao,Neil Denslow US President Donald Trump said a tariff truce with China may be extended in order to conclude a trade agreement between the world’s two largest economies. “We’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said at a press conference at the end of a state visit to the UK. “We may do an extension with China, but it’s an extension based on the same terms that we have right now, which are pretty good terms.” Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to hold a call on Friday night (Hong Kong time) which... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326125/trump-xi-call-nvidia-china-pressure-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326125/trump-xi-call-nvidia-china-pressure-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:00:10 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim A former Indian Navy commander has said India had “no business” getting involved in disputes in the South China Sea, but stressed the need for it to boost its defences in case of a conflict in Asia. Shekhar Sinha, a retired vice-admiral, said that even as China grew more “aggressive” towards smaller claimant states of the contested waterway, India did not have much of a role to play. “India has got economic interests in the South China Sea. If its economic interests are being hurt, our navy will... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326121/south-china-sea-disputes-no-business-india-former-navy-commander-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326121/south-china-sea-disputes-no-business-india-former-navy-commander-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:00:13 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Takeaways from Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun’s speech at Xiangshan Forum As China hosts its annual defence conference, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Defence Minister Dong Jun outlined the country’s priorities and aims. 2. US Fed cuts rates for first time in 2025 amid pressure from Trump, weaker job outlook The US Federal Reserve has announced that it... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3326021/chinese-defence-ministers-speech-us-fed-cuts-rates-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3326021/chinese-defence-ministers-speech-us-fed-cuts-rates-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:15:08 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang An expected phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on Friday could pave the way for further engagement and progress towards a possible summit between the two leaders, according to a prominent Chinese academic. “Tomorrow’s phone call will give a sense of direction – whether the [US-China] relationship is moving more quickly towards a summit,” said Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies and director at the Centre for American Studies at... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326026/can-xi-trump-phone-call-deliver-ramp-rising-us-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326026/can-xi-trump-phone-call-deliver-ramp-rising-us-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:01:07 +0000 Dewey Sim,Zhao Ziwen Dewey Sim,Zhao Ziwen China’s defence minister summoned familiar talking points as he took aim at Western nations during a security conference on Thursday, urging nations to stand up against “bullying” and describing military alliances as groups with “selfish interests”. Dong Jun did not name any country but his calls appeared to resonate with defence chiefs from Southeast Asia, as they took turns criticising unilateral action, including tariffs, and calling for greater efforts to advance multilateralism. Dong... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325991/chinas-defence-minister-warns-against-western-bullying-rallies-regional-allies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325991/chinas-defence-minister-warns-against-western-bullying-rallies-regional-allies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:14:41 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen As China hosts its annual defence conference, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Defence Minister Dong Jun outlined the country’s priorities and aims. During his 30-minute keynote speech Dong addressed key issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea and China’s take on regional blocs by US allies. 1. Historical memory and 9/18 anniversary Dong opened by marking the 918 Incident in which Japan began its invasion of China, starting from the northeast in 1931. He urged nations to “never forget the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325931/takeaways-defence-minister-dong-juns-speech-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325931/takeaways-defence-minister-dong-juns-speech-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 01:51:36 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Chinese capital is this week hosting the country’s most important annual defence conference, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. The three-day event follows a flurry of high-profile diplomatic activity in recent weeks, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin and the Victory Day military parade in Beijing. More than 100 defence... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325927/chinese-defence-minister-dong-jun-address-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325927/chinese-defence-minister-dong-jun-address-xiangshan-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:26:26 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China will work with Singapore to maintain regional stability and maritime order, Beijing’s top-ranked military officer told Singapore’s defence minister on Wednesday. General Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), offered the commitment during talks with Chan Chun Sing on the sidelines of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. “China is willing to work with Singapore to … strengthen regional security cooperation, support each other’s core interests, maintain maritime... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325909/china-ready-work-singapore-regional-stability-top-military-officer-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325909/china-ready-work-singapore-regional-stability-top-military-officer-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:21:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China and the United States are in the “final stage” of negotiations for a state visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump, with bulk purchases of American goods a critical part of the deliverables, the South China Morning Post has learned. The development comes on the heels of the fourth round of trade talks between the two sides in Spain and ahead of a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Trump described the talks in Madrid as a success, with both sides... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325739/trumps-china-trip-many-hinge-boeing-and-soybean-deals-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325739/trumps-china-trip-many-hinge-boeing-and-soybean-deals-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:00:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are leading a new round of trade talks in Madrid, with the tariff truce reached in Stockholm set to expire in November. The delegations arrived at the Spanish foreign ministry in central Madrid on Sunday afternoon local time, just hours after the Chinese team touched down in the capital. A dozen journalists from Chinese and European outlets, including Spain’s public broadcaster TVE, had gathered outside the ministry building... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325494/china-us-trade-delegations-kick-fourth-round-talks-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325494/china-us-trade-delegations-kick-fourth-round-talks-madrid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:08:16 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China has accused the United States and Britain of undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait with their decision to send warships through the waterway, a mission that the two allies described as routine. The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said Chinese naval and air forces closely monitored the destroyer USS Higgins and the British frigate HMS Richmond as they transited the strait on Friday. The passage amounted to “harassment and provocation”, command spokesman... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325426/china-tracks-us-british-warships-taiwan-strait-transit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325426/china-tracks-us-british-warships-taiwan-strait-transit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:00:13 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Alyssa Chen,Vanessa Cai Calls this week between top American and Chinese officials are believed to have laid some of the groundwork for a visit to China by US President Donald Trump, possibly in early November. The trip could take place either before or after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, which gets under way late next month. Trade negotiations are expected to be a key part of the summit, which could take place shortly before a temporary tariff war truce expires on November 10. The White... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325240/trump-trail-diplomacy-and-possible-trip-china-resolve-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China will host defence officials from more than 100 countries next week at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the country’s largest security conference and widely regarded as Beijing’s answer to the Shangri-La Dialogue. “More than 100 countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Russia, France, Nigeria and Brazil, have confirmed their attendance, along with representatives of international and regional organisations,” defence ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Jiang Bin said on Wednesday. The broad... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325209/china-host-defence-themed-xiangshan-forum-next-week-attended-more-100-countries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325209/china-host-defence-themed-xiangshan-forum-next-week-attended-more-100-countries?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:00:20 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China and Vietnam are set to conduct their first joint army training exercise, according to the Chinese defence ministry. In a statement posted on its website on Sunday, the ministry announced that the joint exercise would be held this month in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, which borders Vietnam. Military ties between the Communist Party-led neighbours have deepened in recent months despite territorial disputes, as the close economic partners seek ways to navigate the US... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3318904/china-vietnam-set-first-joint-army-drills-us-trade-war-draws-neighbours-closer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3318904/china-vietnam-set-first-joint-army-drills-us-trade-war-draws-neighbours-closer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 10:04:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification With China signing a convention to set up the International Organisation for Mediation in Hong Kong, the city has an extraordinary opportunity to cement its international status amid geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3317244/hong-kongs-mediation-body-be-par-hague-more-must-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3317244/hong-kongs-mediation-body-be-par-hague-more-must-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma The United States and China have made a breakthrough on trade, with Beijing agreeing to review and approve rare earth export applications in exchange for the United States dropping its countermeasures. “China will review and approve export applications for controlled items in line with laws and regulations, while the US side will correspondingly lift a series of restrictive measures against China,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement. The deal is expected to help stabilise bilateral... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316034/us-china-trade-breakthrough-quad-meeting-washington-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316034/us-china-trade-breakthrough-quad-meeting-washington-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun condemned “hegemony” as the biggest source of global chaos as he hosted his Iranian counterpart and other senior defence staff on an advanced Chinese warship, days after the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was among defence chiefs received by Dong on the PLA Navy’s Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng on Wednesday. The visit took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315901/chinas-dong-jun-hosts-iran-defence-minister-and-others-warship-condemns-hegemony?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315901/chinas-dong-jun-hosts-iran-defence-minister-and-others-warship-condemns-hegemony?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:01:08 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Beijing is ready to work with South Africa to oppose global “hegemony and bullying”, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said on Tuesday, amid growing tensions between Pretoria and Washington over South Africa’s ties to Russia and controversial US asylum policies. The remarks came during a meeting in Beijing with General Rudzani Maphwanya, chief of the South African National Defence Force, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of National Defence. It was Dong’s first public... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313850/chinas-defence-chief-dong-jun-backs-south-africa-against-bullying-amid-us-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313850/chinas-defence-chief-dong-jun-backs-south-africa-against-bullying-amid-us-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:46:10 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines’ defence chief has called on Beijing to engage in good-faith negotiations over the South China Sea, stressing that China still has a long way to go to earn Manila’s trust. Observers warn that trust goes both ways, however, pointing to factors such as growing cooperation between Manila and Washington, and the reduced Chinese presence at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend. At the security summit, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr rebuked a Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312858/china-has-lot-trust-building-do-south-china-sea-philippines-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312858/china-has-lot-trust-building-do-south-china-sea-philippines-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:54:51 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma US President Donald Trump struck out at China again amid US complaints that the Asian nation had reneged on a promise to ease export controls on critical minerals. “I made a fast deal with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. “Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!! The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, has totally violated its agreement with us. So much for being... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3312725/us-china-tensions-flare-again-over-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3312725/us-china-tensions-flare-again-over-rare-earths?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:07 +0000 Hayley Wong,Amber Wang Hayley Wong,Amber Wang Asean defence chiefs emphasised individual agency at the Shangri-La Dialogue, after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Indo-Pacific allies to boost military spending and cooperation to counter what he called the “real” threat posed by China. Among them was Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro Jnr, who asserted that his country, a US treaty ally, was not a mere pawn with “no strategic agency”. Despite China’s pursuit of being a superpower, “we must not overemphasise... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312661/not-mere-pawns-big-power-rivalry-asean-asserts-agency-shangri-la-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312661/not-mere-pawns-big-power-rivalry-asean-asserts-agency-shangri-la-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 14:17:34 +0000 Amber Wang,Hayley Wong Amber Wang,Hayley Wong It is customary for Chinese military delegations to push back against American messaging at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest annual security summit. But this year’s response was different: the rebuttal was not led by China’s defence minister, but its military academic institutions. Beijing’s low-key attendance at the three-day forum in Singapore, which wrapped up on Sunday, was marked by the absence of Defence Minister Dong Jun and the cancellation of a plenary session on China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312643/china-keeps-low-profile-shangri-la-dialogue-what-does-mean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312643/china-keeps-low-profile-shangri-la-dialogue-what-does-mean?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:10:29 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Singapore’s defence minister has said attendees at a premier security summit hosted by his country would have wanted China’s defence chief to be present to avoid misunderstandings, as the absence of a high-ranking leader from Beijing continues to reverberate on the second day of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). Speaking to the media on Saturday following a closed-door ministerial roundtable, a regular feature at the SLD for minister-level attendees, Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312595/chinas-absence-felt-shangri-la-dialogue-singapores-defence-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312595/chinas-absence-felt-shangri-la-dialogue-singapores-defence-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 10:50:34 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim US President Donald Trump’s instinct to “challenge old ways of doing things” that no longer work and his emphasis on “common sense” bear striking similarities to how Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew steered the city state from vulnerability to global relevance, American defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said. In a wide-ranging address on Washington’s Indo-Pacific approach at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth drew parallels between the “historic men”, describing both as having... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 04:31:48 +0000 Hayley Wong,Amber Wang Hayley Wong,Amber Wang US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Indo-Pacific defence chiefs on Saturday that China wanted to “fundamentally alter the region’s status quo”, and that American allies must step up defence investments. Speaking in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence conference, Hegseth said that the threat posed by China was “real and could be imminent”. He said this included Beijing’s efforts to build the capacity to take over Taiwan by force by 2027, while adding that “President... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312561/shangri-la-dialogue-pete-hegseth-warns-china-aims-alter-indo-pacific-status-quo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312561/shangri-la-dialogue-pete-hegseth-warns-china-aims-alter-indo-pacific-status-quo?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 02:43:24 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma A US federal appeals court has temporarily halted a ruling by a lower court that would have blocked President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs announced in April, as well as a separate set of fentanyl-related levies announced against China, Mexico and Canada. The order by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington effectively spares the Trump administration from having to immediately wind down tariffs deemed to be illegal in the lower-court ruling. The appeals court... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3312426/trump-tariffs-upheld-may-factory-activity-tap-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3312426/trump-tariffs-upheld-may-factory-activity-tap-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:11 +0000 Hayley Wong Hayley Wong China will downgrade its representation at the Shangri-La Dialogue this year and, in doing so, skip an opportunity for Defence Minister Dong Jun to meet counterparts from the United States and across Asia. In the past, Asia’s premier defence forum has offered a chance for China’s defence minister to make a speech to counter Washington’s narrative in the region and meet other defence chiefs directly. China’s defence ministry said on Thursday that China would send a delegation from the National... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312350/chinas-dong-jun-skip-singapore-forum-and-chance-meet-us-asian-defence-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312350/chinas-dong-jun-skip-singapore-forum-and-chance-meet-us-asian-defence-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 13:55:02 +0000 Reuters Reuters US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will try to convince Asian defence leaders this weekend that the United States is a more trusted partner for the region than China, US officials said, as questions linger about the Trump administration’s commitment to the region. Hegseth, who has spent a large portion of his first months on the job focused on domestic issues, countering diversity, equity and inclusion in the military and taking aim at the press, will make his first extended remarks in Singapore... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312201/singapores-shangri-la-dialogue-hegseth-aims-sway-asian-allies-amid-trump-era-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3312201/singapores-shangri-la-dialogue-hegseth-aims-sway-asian-allies-amid-trump-era-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 01:25:52 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng In the first visit to Europe by a Chinese defence minister in more than four years, Dong Jun said Beijing would intensify security exchanges with European countries and boost its role in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Dong’s visit to France and Germany – ahead of his address to the sixth UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin on Wednesday – was not announced in advance by Beijing, and the defence ministry issued only brief statements about the meetings held with his counterparts in Paris... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310572/chinas-defence-chief-forges-europe-ties-paris-berlin-plus-un-peace-pledge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310572/chinas-defence-chief-forges-europe-ties-paris-berlin-plus-un-peace-pledge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 03:26:16 +0000 Vietnam will host Defence Minister Dong Jun for a military exchange next week, marking his second visit to the country in four months as China seeks to strengthen ties with its Southeast Asian neighbours amid tensions in the South China Sea and an escalating tariff war with the US. A week-long military exchange between the two countries began on Friday, according to China’s defence ministry. Vietnam announced earlier that Dong would visit the country on Thursday of next week. The exchange... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306232/chinas-defence-chief-dong-jun-visit-vietnam-military-exchange-and-joint-patrol?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306232/chinas-defence-chief-dong-jun-visit-vietnam-military-exchange-and-joint-patrol?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:34:20 +0000 The Xiangshan Forum, China’s equivalent of the Shangri-La Dialogue, kicked off on Thursday, with the opening ceremony hosted by China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun on Friday. Dong, who was appointed as defence chief in December, delivered a relatively brief keynote address, in which he touched on only a few topics. He didn’t directly address sensitive issues such as Taiwan, but he did advise “other parties”, understood to refer to the United States, to “provide positive energy” when getting... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3278353/china-hosts-defence-chiefs-fed-rate-cut-likely-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3278353/china-hosts-defence-chiefs-fed-rate-cut-likely-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Sep 2024 09:00:10 +0000 The Shangri-La Dialogue is often cited as Asia’s premier security conference, but the Singapore gathering can no longer afford to focus exclusively on the Indo-Pacific’s geopolitical challenges. This year’s gathering – attended by defence officials, government leaders and diplomats from around the world – tackled issues but also highlighted divisions among the participants beyond East Asia to Europe and the Middle East. Much of the three-day forum centred on tensions between the United States... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265290/shangri-la-dialogue-shows-us-china-rivalry-extends-far-beyond-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3265290/shangri-la-dialogue-shows-us-china-rivalry-extends-far-beyond-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:30:10 +0000