More than 100 governments and international organisations, including the US, have reportedly confirmed their participation, whereas China has refused. Speaking to the media outside the conference, Zelensky described China as “an instrument in the hands of Putin”, and accused Chinese diplomats of seeking to undermine the peace summit.
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China urged to help end Ukraine war by President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shangri-La Dialogue
China urged to help end Ukraine war by President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shangri-La Dialogue
In his speech, Marcos took aim at China without mentioning it by name. He roundly condemned the “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions [that] continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction”.
Marcos himself underscored the centrality of US-China competition to the security landscape. Their rivalry is “constraining the strategic choices of regional states”, he said, as well as “exacerbating flashpoints” and creating new security dilemmas.
The meeting between the two defence ministers was described by the Chinese side as “positive, practical and constructive”, and by the US as “clear, direct, candid, firm and professional”. In the meeting, Austin criticised China’s behaviour towards the Philippines, and expressed concern over China’s growing nuclear, space and cyber capabilities.
Dong denounced foreign support for separatists in Taiwan and the incitement of provocations by the Philippines. One example that rankled China was the sideline meeting in Singapore that Austin held with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.
Austin faced the difficult challenge of simultaneously reassuring allies, stabilising the relationship with China and defending the US commitment to both Ukraine and Israel.
As if to underscore this balancing act, he travelled next to Cambodia in an effort to strengthen relations with a close Chinese ally, and then on to France to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day, with echoes of another moment when the world faced such stark and widespread divisions.
This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue showed both the serious security challenges within the Indo-Pacific and the extent to which the region’s interests are intertwined with wars in Europe and the Middle East. The prominence of these wider international conflicts at Asia’s leading security dialogue and the divergent approaches of China and the US serve as a reminder that Washington and Beijing cannot silo different theatres of competition.
Daniel Russel is vice-president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a US diplomat for 33 years
Emma Chanlett-Avery is the director of political-security affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute