China Urges Upholding Post-War Order at Shangri-La Dialogue

SINGAPORE — A senior Chinese military expert has called on all parties to firmly uphold the post-war international order, warning against attempts to overturn the outcomes of World War II as the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue convened in Singapore from May 29 to 31. Major General Meng Xiangqing, head of the People’s Liberation Army experts and scholars delegation and a professor at China’s National Defense University, delivered the remarks during parallel sessions of the premier Asia-Pacific security forum.

Speaking at the dialogue, Meng warned that the international community faces multiple security challenges and urged vigilance against any attempts to undermine the post-war order established after World War II. According to Xinhua News, he emphasized the importance of safeguarding the outcomes of the war and the legal foundations laid by the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, which marks its 80th anniversary this year.

Context and Background

The Shangri-La Dialogue, established in 2002 by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), is the premier defense and security conference in the Asia-Pacific region, drawing defense ministers, military chiefs, and security experts from over 40 countries. This year’s gathering featured more than 550 delegates and took place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing US-Iran conflict, disputes in the South China Sea, and uncertainty over US commitments in Asia under the Trump administration.

China sent a lower-level delegation for the second consecutive year, with Defense Minister Dong Jun absent from the forum once again. Beijing has not officially explained the decision, but analysts have interpreted it as a signal of China’s growing frustration with the forum.

Key Developments

Meng’s central message focused on defending the post-war international order, which he framed around the United Nations system, the outcomes of the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, and the principles of the UN Charter. He directly criticized countries that have not “thoroughly purged the poison of militarism,” in remarks widely interpreted as targeting Japan.

“Does a country that has not thoroughly purged the poison of militarism have the qualifications to talk loudly about defense cooperation on the international stage? Can it win the trust of the international community, especially the Asian countries it once invaded? I deeply doubt it,” Meng said, as reported by Xinhua.

The Chinese delegation also used the platform to promote Beijing’s alternative security frameworks. Meng presented China’s Global Security Initiative and Global Governance Initiative, advocating for a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. He called for UN reform, support for BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization expansion, and ASEAN centrality in regional architecture.

On nuclear governance, Meng proposed that the five nuclear-weapon states negotiate a “no first use” treaty, and called for regulating artificial intelligence in military applications. China has already submitted a position paper on AI military regulation under the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Reactions and Analysis

China’s reduced engagement at the forum drew criticism from multiple quarters. German Chief of Defense General Carsten Breuer told CNBC that in his 42 years as a soldier, he had “never experienced such dangerous times” and urged China to use every available dialogue forum. Philippines National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro was more pointed, stating that China’s presence was reduced to “promote the party line rather than to engage constructively.”

Meanwhile, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used his address on May 30 to call out China directly, stating that “no state, including China, can impose its hegemony.” In response, Meng referenced recent US-China summit meetings and called for a “constructive strategic stable relationship,” acknowledging that while competition between the two powers is inevitable, zero-sum games must be abandoned.

What’s Next

The dialogue concluded on May 31 with Singapore’s Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing speaking on evolving security partnerships in a fragmenting world. The question of whether China will return to ministerial-level participation in 2027 remains open, and will likely depend on broader US-China dynamics and regional developments. For now, Beijing’s decision to send a lower-level delegation for a second year has raised questions about its commitment to multilateral security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region.