Key facts
- China's Defense Minister Dong Jun will miss the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu.
- Dong Jun's absence is due to a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing.
- This is the second consecutive year Dong Jun has missed a major regional defense forum.
- Analysts suggest China is avoiding difficult questions on Taiwan and military readiness.
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun will not attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu this week, sending a defense attaché in his place. The meetings, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, coincide with a major Communist Party gathering in Beijing. This marks the second consecutive year Dong has missed a significant regional defense forum, following his absence from the Shangri-La Dialogue. Analysts suggest Beijing is avoiding difficult questions on Taiwan tensions and military readiness, with some diplomats pointing to a desire to avoid a repeat of last year's confrontational exchanges with the US.