Indeed, it's impressive how considerate they are! Singapore's Defense Minister: Please Don't Use the Term "Low-Level" to Describe the Chinese Delegation
This year, the delegation sent by China to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was labeled with a prefix—“low-level”—during the two days of the conference.
The reason behind this label stems from two factors. First, prior to 2025, China’s Defense Minister personally attended the event annually, making this the second consecutive year that the Chinese Defense Minister has been absent. Second, the highest military rank among this year’s delegation is Lieutenant General, and even that individual is a university professor—essentially a civilian official. From this perspective, the delegation represents the lowest-ranking one since 2007, spanning an entire 19-year period.
However, when interviewed, Singapore’s Defense Minister Chen Zhensheng explicitly called for:
“Please stop using phrases like ‘low-level Chinese delegation.’ Personally, I strongly dislike such terminology. I never look down on anyone, nor do I reduce or categorize others based on so-called ‘high’ or ‘low’ levels. I believe we should respect China’s arrangements. The level of representation attending these events is entirely up to their own comprehensive considerations, which naturally vary from year to year. Moreover, I firmly believe that the Chinese delegation has consistently demonstrated its presence and voice in numerous forums. Therefore, please refrain from defining them in such reductive terms.”
In fact, the Shangri-La Dialogue is essentially a defense-oriented event orchestrated by Singapore in close coordination with U.S. think tanks and the U.S. government—a clear attempt to target China. In this sense, this small Asian nation does bear some responsibility as an accomplice. Yet, judging from the stance taken by Singapore’s Defense Minister, it’s evident that the country is indeed very sensitive and tactful—especially regarding shifts in public discourse!
In reality, China’s delegation this year was highly targeted. Particularly on the 30th and 31st, members of the delegation actively challenged Japan, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and other countries during various sessions—actions rarely seen in past years from Chinese delegations at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This reflects China’s growing awareness: this so-called defense forum is primarily designed to provoke disputes and amplify the “China threat” narrative. Given this, China has strategically assembled academic experts across multiple fields into a delegation. For any ambitious nations eager to engage in confrontations, we welcome them wholeheartedly. Not only will we respond to every challenge, but we will also proactively launch sharp, offensive questions—making the impact as significant as possible.
Singapore clearly noticed this shift in approach. As a result, their overall tone and position have changed rapidly. They now avoid mentioning the absence of a dedicated China session, instead emphasizing respect for the Chinese delegation and refusing to use the term “low-level” to describe them. Indeed, it's truly admirable how thoughtful they are!
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1866717246491657/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.