The Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s top security meeting, has commenced in Singapore with the United States and China expected to dominate discussions. The event attracts military officers, diplomats, arms makers, and security analysts from around the world. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver the keynote address on Friday evening, while US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s new defense minister, Li Shangfu, are expected to exchange speeches over the weekend. The relationship between the US and China is at its lowest point in decades due to various issues such as Taiwan’s sovereignty, cyber espionage, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Hopes of improving ties between the two nations were dashed when Li declined an offer to meet with Austin.
During a sideline session on cybersecurity, US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said that “We should be talking to China” when asked about collaborating on cybersecurity risks associated with artificial intelligence. However, Chinese and US defense ministers are not expected to talk to each other at this year’s event, which is unusual. Australia seeks to stabilize its relationship with China after a three-year diplomatic freeze and trade blocks that Beijing is now easing. China is Australia’s biggest trading partner, and the US is its biggest security ally. Since being elected in May 2022, the Albanese Labor government has sought closer ties with the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.