Shangri-La Dialogue Begins in Singapore Amid Tight Security

The Shangri-La Dialogue security forum has begun in Singapore. While Vietnamese President To Lam is scheduled to speak, the most anticipated event is the speech by US Secretary of War Hegseth. The venue is under tight security, with Singaporean police controlling surrounding roads and conducting strict checks. Held annually since 2002, the forum gathers defense ministers and experts to discuss regional security issues like the Indo-Pacific strategy, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula. Attention is focused on US policy and whether Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will attend, though he is expected to be absent for the second consecutive year. China has been promoting its own Beijing Xiangshan Forum in recent years.