The Tale of Two Ministers

Pravin Sawhney | Beijing

The 9^th Beijing Xiangshan Forum held recently in China is the only global annual congregation which is military-led — in this case, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Started in 2006, this year, it recorded participation of 650 delegates, representatives from 68 countries, eight international organisation, and select defence and military experts. The subject this year was ‘Maintaining International Order and Promoting Peace in the Asia-Pacific.’

China’s defence minister Gen. Wei Fenghe

The Forum sent out two clear messages. The first one directed at the United States was that both China and Russia stand together and firm against the lone superpower’s hegemonic tendencies. In an exceptional format with two keynote addresses rather than one, the Chinese and Russian defence ministers, in their individual styles, rejected the US-led international order and the security architecture for the Asia Pacific region. The Russian defence minister, Gen. Sergei Shoigu, with tone reminiscent of the Cold War made a frontal ass