Archive · 14 Sep 2026
China's Xiangshan Forum Opens Amid Rising Regional Security Tensions
China is hosting a large meeting about military and security issues in Beijing.
People from many countries are expected to attend.
China’s defence minister, Dong Jun, is expected to speak about cooperation among countries.
He may also criticize the United States and its allies.
Japan could receive especially strong criticism because China and Japan have tense relations.
Some Asian countries are unsure how dependable United States security support will be.
At the same time, they are worried about China’s actions, especially in the South China Sea.
The meeting may also help visitors understand who could become China’s next military leaders.
China’s three-day Xiangshan Forum in Beijing is expected to bring together military officers, diplomats and scholars from dozens of countries.
Defence Minister Dong Jun is expected to promote international cooperation and a multipolar global order while potentially criticizing the United States and its allies.
Japan may face sharper criticism over its wartime history and alleged remilitarization amid strained Beijing-Tokyo relations.
Regional participants are balancing ties with China against doubts about United States security commitments and concerns over China’s assertive behavior.
The forum will also give foreign delegations an opportunity to assess changes within China’s military leadership before next year’s Communist Party congress.
- Who
- China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun, military officials, diplomats and scholars from dozens of countries are involved; the United States, Vietnam and Malaysia are among the expected participants.
- What
- The Xiangshan Forum, a three-day international defence and security meeting, is opening in Beijing.
- When
- The event is expected to open on Tuesday, during the week described in the September 14 report.
- Where
- Beijing, China.
- Why
- The forum is intended to discuss global security and international cooperation while giving China an opportunity to promote its views on multipolarity and regional defence.
China’s Position
Regional and Western Concerns
Regional security leadership
China’s Position
China is expected to argue for closer international cooperation, a multipolar world and greater representation for Global South countries, potentially including a larger role for Asian countries in managing regional defence.
Regional and Western Concerns
Some Asian countries remain skeptical of China because of its increasingly assertive behavior, particularly in the South China Sea, while also questioning the reliability of United States security commitments.
Criticism of Japan and the United States
China’s Position
Chinese officials may criticize Japan’s wartime past and alleged remilitarization, while making coded criticisms of the United States and its allies.
Regional and Western Concerns
Japan and Western countries may view such criticism as part of China’s effort to advance its regional influence amid tensions involving Taiwan, the South China Sea and U.S. commitments.
China’s military leadership
China’s Position
The forum offers China a platform to present its military leadership and security aims before next year’s Communist Party congress.
Regional and Western Concerns
Foreign defence delegations are expected to use the event to assess the effects of Xi Jinping’s military corruption purges and meet potential members of the next generation of People’s Liberation Army leaders.
- Event
- Xiangshan Forum
- Duration
- Three days
- Location
- Beijing, China
- Expected host speaker
- Defence Minister Dong Jun
- U.S. delegation
- Expected to be headed by Cynthia Carras, the Pentagon’s principal director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia
- Regional attendees
- Vietnam’s Defence Minister Phan Van Giang and Malaysia’s Vice Defence Minister Adly Zahari
- Main regional issues
- Taiwan, the South China Sea, Japan-China tensions and doubts about United States commitments in Asia