Over 100 countries to send defence officials to China’s Xiangshan Security Forum.

Sept 2025 : China will host defence officials from more than 100 countries next week at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the country’s largest security conference and widely regarded as Beijing’s answer to the Shangri-La Dialogue. “More than 100 countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Russia, France, Nigeria and Brazil, have confirmed their attendance, along with representatives of international and regional organisation”, defence ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Jiang Bin said on Wednesday. The broad participation “reflects the forum’s inclusiveness and openness”, Jiang added.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in May, Hegseth accused China of harassing its neighbours in the South China Sea, saying Washington was “watching very closely China’s destabilising actions”.

China Military Online reported on Thursday that the forum would take place from September 17 to 19 at the China National Convention Centre, co-hosted by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute of International Strategic Studies. It said the forum would address safeguarding international order and promoting peaceful development. About 1,800 participants have registered, including delegates, observers and media representatives.

The defence ministers of Singapore and Vietnam made an appearance last year, as did an American delegation led by Michael Chase, US deputy assistant secretary of defence.

The event will open on Wednesday, and the Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun is expected to deliver a keynote speech. It is of importance that Dong did not attend this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, marking the first time since 2019 that China did not send its defence minister to Asia’s premier security summit.

The forum also follows China’s large-scale military parade in Beijing last week, and coincides with the anniversary of the Mukden Incident. That event on September 18, 1931, marked the start of Japan’s full-scale invasion of China and launched 14 years of resistance against Japanese occupation, later becoming part of the wider second world war.

Jiang said the forum would mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory against Japan as well as the founding of the United Nations. “By holding commemorative events we advocate that all nations safeguard the fruits of victory and the post-war international order”, he added.

Senior Colonel Wu Jiangang, chief coordinator of the organising committee, said on Thursday that the programme would include plenary sessions on building a fair global security governance system, improving Asia-Pacific trust and cooperation, maintaining the post-war order and advancing regional peace through dialogue. “The agenda is designed to respond to global security hotspots and highlight both timeliness and leadership”, Wu said.

Eight parallel panels will address issues ranging from the legacy of the anti-fascist war and major power relations to conflict resolution, emerging technologies, arms control and security in Latin America. Special sessions will include high-level dialogues, a seminar for young officers and scholars and exchanges between Chinese and foreign experts. Several closed-door academic workshops will also be held for in-depth discussions on security issues.

Organisers said participants would include representatives from developed countries, emerging powers, small and medium-sized nations and conflict regions.

Team Maverick