Shangri-La Dialogue is officially back

The event, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) from June 10 to 12, is expected to bring together 500 delegates including senior defense officials from more than 40 countries, according to the newspaper. Straits Times. Ukraine War and Competition America – China are believed to be the topics that will dominate the agenda.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will give an important speech opening the event. He is expected to talk about Tokyo’s changing strategic vision, the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and security challenges in the Asia-Pacific. Mr. Kishida’s speech is expected amid expectations that Japan will play a larger role in regional security. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to give a special speech online on June 11.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida REUTERS

On the same day, US Defense Secretary LLoyd Austin will present Washington’s defense policy in the Indo-Pacific. Then the Minister of Defense China Wei Fenghe will speak on Beijing’s vision for the regional order on June 12.

On the sidelines of the event, Mr. Wei and Mr. Austin are expected to meet to discuss how to manage competition between the two countries amid rising tensions over many issues, from Taiwan to China. East Sea. This is the first face-to-face meeting of the two ministers since US President Joe Biden took office. General Austin is also expected to meet South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, as well as hold trilateral talks with Lee and his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi. South Korean media reported that Mr. Lee also plans to meet with Mr. Wei, with the focus of discussion on the latest missile tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. North Korea.

In another development, the Defense Minister Cambodia Tea Banh is expected to meet Minister Austin after information related to the suspicion that China secretly built a military base in Cambodia.