China Urges Unity, Russia Criticizes U.S. at Beijing Defence Forum

At Beijing's Xiangshan Forum, Chinese defence minister Dong Jun advocated for stronger military ties with developing countries and condemned bullying practices, hinting at the United States. Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin accused the U.S. of fomenting conflicts in Asia. The forum stressed multilateralism and regional unity.

At the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, Chinese and Russian defence officials targeted the West, particularly the United States. China's defence minister, Dong Jun, emphasized enhancing military ties with developing nations and urged major countries to abandon zero-sum mindsets. He highlighted the need for equal participation in global affairs.

In contrast, Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin directly accused the U.S. of escalating military tensions in the Asia-Pacific and trying to contain Russia and China. He warned that NATO's actions in Ukraine could risk a direct nuclear conflict. NATO has denied any plans to send troops to Ukraine.

Despite tensions, U.S. representatives, including Michael Chase, engaged in discussions with Chinese counterparts. The forum underscored the importance of regional unity and multilateralism, with China portraying itself as a global peace mediator. Western delegations remained lower-profile compared to their participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

(With inputs from agencies.)