General Carsten Breuer, Germany's chief of defense, expressed concern over China's decision to send a lower-level delegation to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, missing a critical opportunity for ministerial-level discussions amid rising global tensions. He emphasized the importance of dialogue in today's contested world, stating that the current geopolitical climate is unprecedentedly dangerous.
Breuer's remarks followed comments from U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who criticized China's attempts at hegemony. While Breuer acknowledged ongoing conversations with the Chinese delegation, he argued that higher-level engagement would be more beneficial.
In contrast, Philippines national defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of China's participation, suggesting that it serves more to promote its party line than to foster constructive dialogue. This situation reflects broader concerns about international relations and security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region