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Wang Xiangwei
Wang Xiangwei

China Briefing | China chafes at lectures on ‘rules-based order’, as US breaks all the rules

Beijing is once again the subject of unwanted attention at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum, but delegates also have many questions about US priorities

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Malaysia's Defence Minister Hishammudin Hussein leaves a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence James Mattis on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Photo: Reuters
Wang Xiangwei

Over the past few years, the Chinese military officers attending the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum, have always had a tough job on their hands.

They have had to find ways to skillfully and firmly ward off volleys of attacks from the defence ministers of the United States, Japan, and their European allies who openly or implicitly accuse China of disregarding international law and norms, particularly since Beijing started to flex its military muscles over the disputed territories in the South and East China seas.

“Rules-based order” has become one of the most cited buzzwords in speeches that mention China.

However, ahead of this year’s three-day forum last weekend in Singapore, there were suggestions China might receive less attention partly because of a more crowded agenda that included the significant rise of threats from terrorism and North Korea’s nuclear menace as well as concerns over US President Donald Trump and his administration’s perceived retreat from global leadership. Indeed, during the event came the news of the horrific terror attacks that left seven dead and 48 injured in London. Also, the battle between Philippine troops and Islamic extremists rages on in Mindanao.
A pedestrian passes floral tributes to the victims of the recent attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. Photo: Reuters
A pedestrian passes floral tributes to the victims of the recent attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. Photo: Reuters
More importantly, tensions in the South China Sea have eased since the UN tribunal ruling last year in favour of the Philippines in its case against China’s extensive claims. Last month, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached a breakthrough agreement on a draft framework for a code of conduct to manage disputes in the sea.
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