The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue was just held in Singapore, and China’s Minister of National Defense, Dong Jun, was notably absent from the meeting. The delegation from China’s National Defense University was led by Major General Hu Gangfeng, the university’s Vice President and Dean of Education.
Since 2007, China has placed increasing importance on the Shangri-La Dialogue, frequently sending high-ranking officials such as the Minister of Defense or Deputy Chief of the General Staff (at the rank of General or Lieutenant General). In 2012, 2017, and 2018, China sent the Deputy President of the Academy of Military Sciences (Lieutenant General) to attend. Since 2019, aside from the 2020 and 2021 (meetings which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), China’s three successive defense ministers – Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu, and Dong Jun – had all attended and delivered speeches.
There have been rumors that Dong Jun, though he has been installed as the Defense Minister following the takedown of Li Shangfu, is not fully trusted. He was never given two higher titles, member of the Central Military Commission and State Councilor, which all of his predecessors had.
Huanqiu Times, in its English edition Global Times, published an article “Explainer: Why didn’t China send higher-ranking officials to attend 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue?” The article said, “A military expert told the Global Times on Thursday that for years, China’s military has participated in international and regional dialogues of real substance. Delegation members are selected based on operational needs, and regardless of rank or title, all participants represent the Chinese military in communicating China’s vision for a shared future and its three global initiatives, as well as its foreign and defense policies and core interests.”
Sources:
1. Epoch Times, May 31, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/5/31/n14521585.htm
2. Global Times, May 30, 2025
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1335141.shtml