Chinese defence chief skirts flashpoints at Xiangshan Forum ahead of Xi-Trump summit

With just a week to go until Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Washington for his first state visit in more than a decade, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun opted for the diplomatic path in his address to China’s premier security conference on Wednesday.

Speaking at the annual Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, Dong took veiled swipes at Washington and its allies but – unlike last year – appeared to pull his punches, skipping mentions of contentious issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.

He also said Beijing would share its experience in “military building” and “provide assistance within our capabilities” to foreign armed forces, a rare public offer by the country’s top defence officials.

Beijing seems increasingly confident of its military prowess heading into the People’s Liberation Army’s centenary next year, with a belief that it is closing the military gap with Washington.