China is set to project its growing diplomatic clout and military ambitions as it hosts the annual Beijing Xiangshan Forum this week, a major regional security gathering that comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in East Asia.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, more than 1,800 participants from 100 countries, including military officials, diplomats, and security scholars, will attend the three-day event beginning September 17, 2025.
The forum is widely seen as Beijing’s answer to Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, long regarded as Asia’s premier informal security platform.
Why is Xi’s vision of global order in focus?
Observers expect Chinese officials to use the forum to promote President Xi Jinping’s vision of a new international order, outlined earlier this month, which calls for unity against “hegemonism and power politics,” a thinly veiled criticism of the United States.
Foreign diplomats say the forum provides a unique window into Beijing’s strategic thinking and its ambitions for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the world’s largest standing military force.
“Foreign participants will be keen to gather more details about China’s military modernisation, especially given the opacity of the PLA’s leadership,” noted James Char, a security expert at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, in a Reuters’ report on the Xiangshan Forum.
Why is the spotlight on PLA modernisation at the Forum?
China showcased cutting-edge weaponry at its September 3 military parade, including hypersonic weapons, large submersible drones, and a revamped long-range nuclear missile. However, analysts remain uncertain about whether these systems are fully operational or capable of shifting battlefield dynamics.
Adding to the intrigue, over a dozen generals — many previously close to Xi — have been purged from the PLA in recent years. Diplomats believe the Xiangshan Forum offers a rare opportunity to assess the command structure of the Central Military Commission, the PLA’s top decision-making body.
What is the backdrop of the Forum as regional frictions rises?
The forum comes at a time of mounting flashpoints in the Asia-Pacific. The PLA Navy’s sea trials of its third and most advanced aircraft carrier in the disputed South China Sea have heightened concerns, while the US and Japan recently staged exercises in Okinawa featuring the Typhon anti-ship missile system.
Despite these tensions, Western allies are keeping their delegations modest. The United States will send only its defence attache in Beijing, a step down from last year’s deputy assistant secretary-level participation. A Pentagon spokesperson said the attache’s attendance was deemed the “appropriate level of representation.”
In contrast, regional stakeholders are showing stronger engagement. Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Malaysia’s Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin have confirmed attendance, while South Korea will send an official from the Korea National Defense University.
China’s Defence Ministry also confirmed delegations from Russia, France, Brazil, Nigeria, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Is this China’s bid for influence in the region and beyond?
For Beijing, the Xiangshan Forum is more than a talking shop. It is part of a broader push to shape the regional security narrative, counter US influence, and reassure partners of China’s role as a “responsible power.”
As one Western diplomat noted, the event is as much about optics and networking as it is about substance. “Everyone wants to see how China frames its vision of security and how much detail they are willing to reveal about the PLA’s capabilities.”
With regional tensions running high, all eyes will be on Beijing to see how far China can use the Xiangshan Forum to translate rhetoric into real influence.