China’s Defence Chief Calls for Deeper Global Security Cooperation

China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun has called on countries to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on global security, warning that emerging technologies and growing geopolitical tensions require greater coordination rather than confrontation.

The Chinese defence chief made the remarks on Wednesday, September 16, while opening the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, one of China’s major international platforms for defence and security discussions.

Dong Jun Pushes for More Security Dialogue

Addressing military officials, diplomats and security experts from around the world, Dong said countries need to build greater consensus around international security and improve cooperation in dealing with emerging challenges.

The three-day forum has brought together representatives from around 100 countries, with discussions focused on international security, military cooperation and ways to manage growing risks in an increasingly complex global environment.

Dong argued that countries should place greater emphasis on dialogue and practical cooperation instead of allowing differences to escalate into confrontation.

His message comes at a time when tensions are rising across several parts of the world, including Asia, where disputes involving Taiwan and the South China Sea continue to shape regional security discussions.

AI and Space Take Centre Stage

One of the notable areas highlighted by Dong was the rapid development of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

The Chinese defence minister called for stronger international cooperation on AI governance, risk assessment and the development of rules for new technologies.

He also pointed to outer space and other emerging domains as areas where countries need to work together before technological competition creates new security risks.

The concern is increasingly global. As artificial intelligence, robotics and space technologies develop rapidly, governments are examining how these capabilities could affect military operations, national security and international stability.

Dong’s message was essentially that countries should prepare for those risks before they become harder to control.

China Warns Against Provocation

Beyond technology, Dong used his address to urge countries to avoid provocative actions and what he described as the return of harmful historical trends.

He called for a more peaceful and inclusive approach to international security and warned against coercion, confrontation and the pursuit of national interests at the expense of wider stability.

Reuters reported that some of his comments were interpreted as an indirect criticism of Japan, particularly against the backdrop of heightened tensions involving Taiwan and the South China Sea. Dong did not directly name Japan or the United States in those remarks.

The comments underline the increasingly important role of military diplomacy as major powers attempt to manage disagreements while keeping communication channels open.

Why the Xiangshan Forum Matters

The Beijing Xiangshan Forum has become an important gathering for defence officials and security experts from different parts of the world.

The 2026 edition is being held under the theme “Build Consensus On Stability, Advance Security Governance Together,” reflecting China’s emphasis on cooperation and collective approaches to security challenges.

The forum also provides an opportunity for military officials from different countries to meet and discuss security concerns at a time when geopolitical competition is affecting trade, technology, energy and international relations.

For China, the event also forms part of its broader military diplomacy and engagement with countries beyond its immediate region.

A Broader Conversation on Global Security

Dong’s address comes as countries grapple with a rapidly changing security environment.

The growing use of AI, advances in military technology and increasing competition in space are creating challenges that extend beyond traditional battlefields. At the same time, geopolitical disputes are making cooperation between major powers more complicated.

Against that backdrop, China’s defence chief is pushing dialogue, rules and international cooperation as tools for managing those pressures.

Whether countries can translate those calls into practical cooperation remains a larger question. But with more than 2,000 delegates reportedly attending the forum, the discussions in Beijing are providing another platform for governments and security experts to debate how global security should evolve.

As the Xiangshan Forum continues through September 17, attention will remain on how China and participating countries address the growing intersection of defence, artificial intelligence, space technology and international security.