China says world at crossroads

By Johannes Neudecker

Beijing (dpa) — China has warned against interference in its affairs and further disputes amid regional conflicts.

“The world today stands at another crossroads: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation,” said Defence Minister Dong Jun at the opening ceremony of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Thursday.

Taiwan is indisputably part of China, he said, adding that the People’s Liberation Army is a powerful force capable of defending “reunification.”

Beijing will never allow attempts at Taiwanese independence to succeed, Dong said. It is prepared to thwart any “external military interference” at any time, he added, without naming specific countries.

Democratic Taiwan, home to 23.4 million people, has maintained an independent government since 1949. However, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has frequently threatened to annex it.

The United States, Taiwan’s most important backer, is legally bound to support the island democracy’s defence capabilities due to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

In view of the disputes, particularly with the Philippines, over resource-rich areas in the South China Sea, Dong stressed that China would protect its territorial sovereignty as well as its rights and interests.

According to the minister, a pursuit of absolute military superiority and a “might is right” approach would ultimately lead to a “rule of the jungle.”

China recently declared an atoll in the South China Sea a nature reserve.

The Xiangshan Forum is considered China’s counter-event to the internationally renowned the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference, held every year in Singapore.

Western countries usually only send low-level representatives to the Xiangshan Forum – Germany and the US sent the military attachés from their embassies. Meanwhile, China sent only a low-ranking delegation to Singapore this year for the first time in a long time, leaving no in-person meeting between Dong and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Some countries from Central Asia and the Global South sent their defence ministers. According to information from Beijing, defence politicians and experts from more than 100 countries had confirmed their attendance at the forum.