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Shangri-La Dialogue at 21: Time to grow up
Forum faces the challenge of the US and China talking past each other in a dialogue of the deaf.
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At 21, the dialogue would need to grow beyond the typical verbal slugfests into a joint slog for the utopia of regional security, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Started as a confab for defence ministers to discuss regional security and explore practicable means of cooperation, the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) to be held this weekend will feature, as in previous editions, a slate of high-powered speakers who will talk about the pertinent issues of the day. Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in Ukraine come immediately to mind.
The keynote speaker this year – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr – will likely put into sharp relief some of the region’s pressing challenges. When seen in the context of deepening schisms in Sino-US relations, questions arise as to the effectiveness of the SLD in seeking out practical means of defence cooperation.
