Chinese defence forum set to open amid roiling regional tensions

Key Points:

• China's Defence Minister Dong Jun is set to open the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, emphasizing international cooperation in a multipolar world while likely criticizing the U.S. and its allies amid regional tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
• The forum, attended by hundreds of military officials and diplomats from dozens of countries, serves as a tightly controlled Chinese counterpart to the more open Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, with some analysts expecting tempered criticism of the U.S. due to President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Washington.
• Japan may face sharper criticism from China at the forum, particularly regarding its wartime history and alleged remilitarization, while Taiwan remains excluded from the event due to its disputed status with China.
• The event provides China an opportunity to promote regional defense led by Asian countries amid doubts about U.S. security commitments, though China's assertive regional behavior limits its influence, according to experts.
• The forum also serves as a platform for foreign delegations to assess the impact of Xi's military leadership purges and to engage with potential new members of the Central Military Commission ahead of the Communist Party's congress next year.