In Beijing's golden autumn season, an international security event that attracted attention quietly kicked off. The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened on September 12, attracting more than 500 delegates from more than 90 countries.
Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen's new name for China, and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun's repeated emphasis on two words at the opening ceremony - "equality". These two details, like a mirror, reflect China's growing status and influence on the international stage.
Huang Yonghong's speech is undoubtedly a highlight of this forum. As Singapore's defense minister for his 10th visit to China and his sixth speech at the Xiangshan Forum, he called China a "world leader." Behind this title is the recognition and expectation of China's international status.
Huang noted that China is articulating the norms and rules it aspires to achieve its vision of a regional and world order. He also skillfully used the Chinese idiom "strong not stubborn, rich not insulting poor" to describe China's diplomatic philosophy, which not only shows his understanding of Chinese culture, but also reflects Singapore's recognition of China's foreign policy.
At the same time, the opening speech of Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun was also eye-catching. He mentions the word "equality" five times in 70 seconds, emphasizing that "there should be no three, six, nine, etc. here." Dong Jun pointed out that no matter how big or small, whether a country is developed or not, it should participate in international affairs on an equal footing, express its interests, and safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. To a certain extent, this remark hints at China's dissatisfaction with the current international order or the United States hegemonic order, which highlights the new concept of international relations advocated by China.
The Xiangshan Forum is not only a platform for international security dialogue, but also an important window for China to showcase its diplomatic philosophy and international influence. The participation of representatives from more than 100 countries and organizations, as well as experts and scholars, makes the forum a veritable "world-class security forum".
This is confirmed by the assessment of Chinese scholar Wu Shicun, who called the Xiangshan Forum a world-class security forum that can truly enable all countries to have equal opportunities for exchange, and compared it with his own experience of not being able to speak at the Munich Security Conference in Germany last year.
However, the international community's attitude towards China is not one-sided. United States media believe that Defense Minister Dong Jun's speech implicitly criticized United States. Some foreign media even believe that China may want to use this forum to promote its own ideas, with a certain meaning of "coercion". The existence of this view reflects the complex mentality of the international community, especially the West, about China's rise.
It is worth noting that China has not only shown diplomatic posture at this forum, but also has the support of practical actions. Just a week before the forum, China invited Singapore troops to Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, for joint maritime exercises. Such military exchanges have undoubtedly enhanced mutual trust between the two countries and laid the foundation for Huang Yonghong's speech at the forum.
The warning issued by He Lei, a lieutenant general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), on the South China Sea issue at the forum also attracted widespread attention. He said that the PLA will not always be patient with United States, and if United States manipulate other countries to confront China or go to the front line on its own, the PLA will defend national sovereignty with actions. These remarks show China's determination to safeguard its national interests.
Looking back at the entire forum, it can be said that China's diplomatic stance has remained unchanged: it advocates the equality of all countries and opposes hegemonism; non-interference in the internal affairs of other States; Provide development opportunities for developing countries. This stance is undoubtedly of great significance in the current complex international situation.
After the meeting, Huang Yonghong received a pair of glass lions presented by Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and felt "very pleasantly surprised". Although this detail is small, it reflects the delicacy and thoughtfulness of China's diplomacy. The exchange of courtesies and human relations is equally important in the exchanges between countries.
In general, the success of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum marks the rapid increase of China's international influence and discourse power, and its influence has not only been limited to Asia, but has moved towards the world. Many countries have spoken highly of China's important role in the international order, which is undoubtedly a recognition of China's foreign policy.
However, China's changing role on the international stage has not been without its challenges. The United States and its allies remain suspicious and wary of China's rise. How to maintain positive interaction with other major powers while safeguarding national interests and avoid falling into the "Thucydides trap" is a major challenge facing China.
In addition, although the concept of "equality" advocated by China has been supported by many developing countries, there is still a long way to go in how to implement it in practice. How to uphold principles and respond flexibly in the great power game is a topic that China's diplomacy needs to constantly explore.