The 21st Shangri-la Security Dialogue, held in Singapore between 31 May and 2 June, saw the United States’ Secretary of Defence unveil a new way to describe his country’s Asia-Pacific policy, and hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart. China was unyielding on its “core interests”. Australian Defence Minister Marles embraced the “global rules-based order” and drew a sharp distinction between Russia and China, which he invited to abide by “the order’s” rules.

The meeting followed by a few days the summit held in Seoul between the Prime Ministers of China, Japan and South Korea. Apart from the political significance of both meetings, their emphases were different, with economics at the heart of the Seoul meeting, security at the heart of the meeting in Singapore.

Attendance at the two meetings was also very different, the Seoul meeting of course very small but the Singapore meeting including not only representatives from a wide range of Asia-Pacific countries but also a strong representation from Europe—President Zelensky—in particular. Topics raised also ranged beyond the Asia-Pacific, including Ukraine and the Middle East/Gaza. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo paid particular attention to Gaza, indicating his country’s willingness to make a substantial contribution to eventual peace-keeping there.

The other main difference between the two meetings was the presence in Singapore of Secretary Austin, the United States’ Secretary of Defense. He not only made a major speech, in which he introduced a new slant on the USA’s alliances and relationships in the region, but also had a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Minister Dong Jun. There had not been a similar meeting last year.

The US and Chinese speeches were different in tone, although they had something in common—neither mentioned the other by name. Secretary Austin described his country’s emphasis on its alliances as a distinguishing feature of its foreign........

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