Chinese admiral and defence minister, Navy veteran and current defence chief
At the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Indo‑Pacific partners to build their own militaries while affirming continued U.S. commitment. The administration has paused a congressionally approved up‑to‑$14bn arms package for Taiwan while reviewing munitions used in Operation Epic Fury; Taipei says it has not been formally notified.
CSIS warns depleted inventories of key munitions used in the Iran war have created a multi-year window of vulnerability. Replenishment will take years due to production limits and lead times, even as US officials promise combat readiness.
World defense chiefs at the Shangri-La Dialogue stress collective security amid rising regional strains. Tokyo pushes for transparency; Beijing underscores strategic rivalry and mutual concern. Leaders warn that fragmentation could disrupt stability, urging closer coalitions.
Japan has publicly questioned China’s defense-spending transparency while outlining steps to bolster its own defense posture, including arms exports reforms and drones, amid regional tensions. Tokyo is urging trust, openness, and dialogue as it expands capabilities in a changing security landscape.
China has again skipped a ministerial-level presence at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, sending a lower-level delegation. Western officials say dialogue is still occurring at other levels, while allies push for stronger defense spending amid a shifting security landscape.
Indonesia and China have expanded defense and economic cooperation, with talks on joint exercises, training, and defense-industry ties. A new bilateral dialogue aims to safeguard development and security, and China-Indonesia collaboration extends to AI, satellites, energy, and minerals. Trade surpassed $167 billion in 2025 amid Belt and Road projects.