While Washington and Beijing softened their rhetoric this year, the US-dominated forum is exhausting its function as a space for engagement.

Signapore's defence minister was also asked about China's participation at this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, to which he asked people not to use the phrase "low-level Chinese…

In response to Hegseth’s call, participants at the Singapore forum say defence spending levels have to factor in different countries’ needs.