**China Opts Out of Shangri-La Dialogue Amid Growing Tensions with the US**

In a notable move, China has announced it will not be sending its defense minister to this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest defense and security forum in Asia. Instead, China will be represented by a delegation from the People's Liberation Army National Defense University. This marks the first time in five years that a high-level delegation from Beijing will miss the event.

Set against a backdrop of rising tensions with Washington, the absence of Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun raises questions about the potential for any high-level meetings between Chinese officials and their US counterparts. Last year’s dialogue witnessed a rare face-to-face discussion between then-US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Adm. Dong, where they committed to maintaining a US-China dialogue amidst escalating military tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The US will be represented at the forum by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who began his trip to Asia in the Philippines, reaffirming America's commitment to countering Chinese aggression in the region. On Thursday, at a press conference, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stated that China remains "open to communication at all levels," yet avoided addressing why Beijing chose not to send its defense minister.

This decision coincides with recent economic turbulences and trade conflicts between the two nations. The imposition of tariffs by US President Donald Trump heightened economic frictions earlier this year, culminating in duties exceeding 100% on each other's goods. Although a temporary tariff truce was announced earlier this month, new tensions arose this week following the US targeting software exports to Chinese tech companies and restricting study visas for Chinese students.

Washington's bolstered maritime exercises in the Indo-Pacific, with 120 scheduled bilateral or multilateral exercises involving US forces this year, signal a firm stance. Analysts caution, however, that while deepening US security engagement is largely welcomed, it shouldn't escalate tensions that could threaten the security of regional nations not aligned with US treaties.

The presence of a substantial European delegation at the dialogue, including French President Emmanuel Macron, adds another dimension to China's subdued participation this year. China’s support for Russia in its Ukraine conflict has significantly strained its relations with Europe, leading to potential public criticism.

Overall, China's decision to downgrade its representation at the Shangri-La Dialogue underscores its strategic pivot towards emphasizing economic relations over military diplomacy and highlights the simmering tensions in US-China relations.