China's Shangri-La Dialogue Response: Cooperation Over Confrontation

At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, China positioned itself as a force for regional stability, emphasizing dialogue, development, and peace while criticizing confrontational approaches as counterproductive and destabilizing.

CHINESE ARGUMENTS

CONSTRUCTIVE REGIONAL ROLE

Hu Gangfeng (PLA National Defense University Vice President) emphasized China's positive contributions:

• "China's development began in the Asia-Pacific, was enabled by the Asia-Pacific, and contributes to the Asia-Pacific"
• China has "properly handled and resolved conflicts and disputes" and "actively promoted de-escalation"
• The country works "hand in hand with other countries" to maintain regional security

GLOBAL SECURITY INITIATIVE

China promoted its Global Security Initiative (GSI), claiming support from over 100 countries and international organizations as evidence of "international consensus with global influence."

REGIONAL SUPPORT FOR CHINA'S APPROACH

ACADEMIC AND EXPERT BACKING

Koh King Kee (Malaysia): Praised China's "spirit of cooperation, mutual benefit, openness, and inclusiveness" and its approach of "seeking common ground while respecting differences."

U Thant Kyaw (Myanmar): Said the GSI can "help promote solidarity in tackling challenges together" and enhance global security governance.

Lee Pei May (Malaysia): Described China's proposals as "people-centric" based on "mutual respect, non-interference, inclusivity, and acceptance of diverse cultures."

CRITICISM OF THE WESTERN APPROACH

Veronika Saraswati (Indonesia): Argued that "cooperative security offers the most reliable foundation for long-term peace" compared to "unilateralism or military deterrence."

CHINA'S COUNTER-NARRATIVE

REJECTING CONFRONTATIONAL RHETORIC

Hu Gangfeng dismissed critical remarks as fabricated claims that "distort facts" and represent "acts of a thief crying 'stop thief'" aimed at:

• Provoking trouble
• Sowing division
• Inciting confrontation
• Destabilizing the Asia-Pacific

CRITICIZING US STRATEGY

Liu Wanxia (PLA National Defense University) characterized the US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" as designed to "shore up alliances and contain other countries," calling it destabilizing to the region.

THE ALTERNATIVE VISION

CHINA PRESENTED ITS APPROACH AS OFFERING:

• Common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security
• Dialogue-based framework instead of exclusion or pressure
• Mutual respect rather than adversarial positioning
• Trust-building and interdependence over military deterrence

STRATEGIC MESSAGING

The Chinese delegation's presentation aimed to contrast their "peaceful development" narrative with what they characterized as Western confrontational policies, positioning China as the reasonable actor seeking regional harmony while others promote division and instability.