China to host Xiangshan defence forum amid Taiwan, South China Sea tensions

New Delhi: China will host senior military officials, diplomats and security experts in Beijing from Tuesday for its annual Xiangshan Forum. This comes amid tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea and wider United States-China strategic competition forming the backdrop to one of Beijing’s main international security gatherings.

The 13th Beijing Xiangshan forum will run from September 15 to 17 at the Beijing International Convention Center. China’s defence ministry said this year’s theme is “Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together,” with four plenary sessions and eight parallel discussions covering strategic stability, regional conflicts, maritime security, emerging military technologies and outer space.

Chinese defence minister, Dong Jun, is expected to deliver a keynote address after the forum formally opens. Beijing is likely to use the gathering to emphasize international security cooperation and its preference for a more multipolar international order Reuters reported. Dong’s actual remarks, however, will determine the formal message China puts before participating delegations.

The forum has developed from a thinktank dialogue launched in 2006 into a Track 1.5 platform attended by defence leaders, military officers, international organizations and security scholars. Chinese authorities describe it as a forum for building consensus on global security governance.

Reuters reported that Vietnam will be represented by its defence minister, Phan Van Giang, while the Malaysian deputy defence minister, Adly Zahari, is also expected to attend.

The United States delegation will be led by Cynthia “Xanthi” Carras, a senior Pentagon official responsible for China, Taiwan and Mongolia. Her participation represents an increase from last year, when Washington sent a defence attaché from its Beijing embassy, though US representation has varied from year to year.

The official programme also includes an event on a “constructive” China-US relationship of strategic stability, providing a channel for engagement even as the two countries remain divided over Taiwan, military activity in the western pacific and broader regional security questions.

Maritime security moves to centre stage

Taiwan and the South China Sea remain among the most sensitive issues surrounding the gathering. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of China, while Taipei rejects Chinese sovereignty claims. In the South China Sea, China’s expansive maritime claims overlap with those of several Southeast Asian states, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Against that backdrop, the Xiangshan agenda includes sessions on risks to security and stability in the Asia-Pacific and on sea-lane security and maritime governance. Reuters said questions over Washington’s long-term security commitments in Asia are also likely to shape discussions among regional delegations.

Forum comes amid India-China thaw

For India, the gathering comes days after the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, met during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi as both countries continue efforts to stabilise relations following the 2020 border confrontation.

RNA Media had earlier reported that Modi and Xi called for a strategic and long-term approach to bilateral ties and agreed that differences should not become disputes. Modi also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border. Reuters reported that the two leaders discussed expanding business and transport links while acknowledging that border stability remains central to improving relations.

The Xiangshan Forum will continue through Thursday, with China-US strategic stability, maritime security, regional conflicts and emerging military technologies among the issues scheduled for discussion. Dong’s address will provide the first substantive indication of how Beijing intends to frame its security priorities at this year’s gathering.