Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun opened the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Defense Forum today in a speech where he called for cooperation between the nations of the region in order to maintain peace. He underlined that every country has the right to safeguard its security as well as a responsibility for global security. He said that when “other parties” get involved in regional affairs, it should be to cooperate in order to “provide positive energy”—just the opposite of what the U.S. is presently doing. “At this new crossroads,” Dong said, “ we cherish the enlightenment of historical experience even more, and we have more confidence and wisdom to answer the theme of peaceful coexistence.” He added that the security of countries in the region “remains in their own hands.” A total of more than 1,800 guests from official delegations of more than 100 countries and international organizations attended the forum, including the United States.
During the Q&A, Lieutenant General He Lei posed two (probably rhetorical) questions to the U.S. In their claims that China was violating the UN Convention in its operations in the South China Sea, he asked, exactly what clause, or what statute of the convention was the U.S. referring to? Secondly, how does increased U.S. naval operations in the region add to the region’s security? It is not clear if he received, or intended to receive, a response from the U.S. delegates, although he did receive some applause from delegates in posing it.
