China's Academic Delegation: A Missed Opportunity at Shangri-La Dialogue

China's choice to only send academics to Asia's most significant defense conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue, is being viewed as a missed diplomatic chance. Australia's Defense Minister, Richard Marles, emphasized the need for strategic reassurance from Beijing to calm regional tensions at this crucial gathering of global defense leaders.

Speaking to Reuters, Marles highlighted concerns over China's substantial military expansion, the largest since World War Two, which has proceeded without sufficient strategic dialogue with other nations. The absence of China's Defense Minister Dong Jun for the second consecutive year underscores this ongoing challenge.

Despite these tensions, Australia is strengthening its defense ties within the Asia-Pacific and maintaining its alliance with the U.S. as foundational to its security policy. Marles, along with counterparts from the U.S., Japan, and the U.K., is expected to announce a significant AUKUS project development, focusing on uncrewed underwater vehicles.

(With inputs from agencies.)