We continue to welcome China's participation in future dialogues: Chan Chun Sing at Shangri-La Dialogue

Following the absence of China's defence minister at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore's Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing highlighted the importance in engaging China to minimise chances of misunderstanding or misreading of each other's intent.

Chan also encouraged his counterparts to continue reaching out to China.

Chan said in an interview with the media on the second day of Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31:

"I can't speak for China, but I'm sure the Chinese will have their own considerations as to when they would like, which level of representation, for which dialogue. So we continue to welcome China's participation in future dialogues, and even on the sidelines, I encourage all my fellow counterparts, all my fellow Defence Ministers, that notwithstanding China's absence, we should continue to reach out to China.

And I'm sure China, in its own time, will also want to reach out to the rest of the world, because I think it's important for all sides to try to reach out to one another, to better understand one another, so that we minimise the chances of misunderstanding or misreading of each other's intent"

China's Minister of National Defence, Dong Jun, did not attend the dialogue, the first time China's defence minister has been absent from the gathering in recent years.

However, China still sent a delegation to the event.

Chan noted that the Shangri-La Dialogue has grown over the years, as many find it a useful platform to exchange perspectives.

"Now, we may not always agree with one another on all issues, but that's not the most important point.

The most important point is that we have a platform. We have meetings, side meetings, that allow people to talk to one another, exchange perspectives, and that minimises the chances of miscalculations or the misreading of each others' intention."

Chan's first

The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue will be Chan's first since he took over as Singapore's Defence Minister from May 23, after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced his new Cabinet line-up.

However, he is no stranger to the summit, having attended it on several occasions, including in 2017.

As a regular feature of the Shangri-la Dialogue, Chan will host roundtable discussions for visiting ministers on May 31 and Jun 1, and host the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) defence ministers to breakfast.

He is also set to hold bilateral meetings with ministers and senior officials from various countries on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue.

Established in 2002, the Shangri-la Dialogue has provided "a valuable, open and neutral platform for the exchange of perspectives on defence and security issues and initiatives", according to MINDEF.

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Top photos via Mothership