Xi May Meet Zelenskiy, Ukrainian Attendee Reports, as Beijing Defence Forum Kicks Off

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By Laurie Chen

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping may have the opportunity to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy next month, according to a former Ukrainian official speaking at a significant military diplomacy event in China.

Oleksandr Chalyi, a former deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, indicated during one of the opening sessions of the Xiangshan Forum that the diplomatic relationship with Beijing has shown signs of improvement, making such a meeting feasible. He stated that Ukrainians are hopeful for direct contacts between their president and Xi.

China has positioned itself as neutral regarding Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has persisted for more than two years. However, it maintains a close strategic partnership with Moscow and chose not to participate in a peace summit organized by Ukraine in June.

In July, Ukraine’s former foreign minister met with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing, as Zelenskiy is considering another potential summit in November, which may include Russian representatives.

Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Institute of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, commented on the forum’s sidelines about China’s willingness to engage in future summits, emphasizing that China aims to ensure its diplomatic efforts are not in vain. He remarked, “We are ready to do anything that fosters peace.”

The forum, which runs from September 12 to 14 in Beijing, features participants from 90 countries and international organizations. This gathering is particularly important for China, which seeks to enhance its image as a responsible player in international conflicts, despite its own territorial disputes in the region. The theme for this year’s forum is "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future."

Tensions remain high in the South China Sea, highlighted by recent exchanges of accusations between the Philippines and China regarding coast guard vessel interactions. Additionally, China’s military activities around Taiwan, which it views as a part of its territory, continue to raise concerns.

Western nations have voiced apprehensions regarding China’s increasing military cooperation with Russia and its assertive maneuvers in the South China Sea. In a recent joint military exercise with Belarus near NATO member Poland’s border, these concerns were amplified.

The U.S. intends to send Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, to the forum. His presence signifies a senior-level engagement, which could potentially lead to deeper conversations between the U.S. and China, especially as relations have normalized somewhat in recent months following the reopening of communication channels that had been stagnant for nearly two years.

Despite the diplomatic thaw, experts like former U.S. State Department China coordinator Rick Waters caution about the durability of these improvements during crises.

Most Western nations, however, are sending lower-level delegations, preferring to address international security matters in gatherings like the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Notable attendees at the Xiangshan Forum include defense ministers from Belarus, the UAE, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Chile, and the Maldives, along with a deputy defense minister from Russia.

The ongoing crisis in Gaza is likely to dominate discussions, with some attendees anticipating that China’s advocacy for Palestinian causes will resonate with various Global South representatives.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech on Friday. Recently appointed, Dong has been criticized for his strong rhetoric against Taiwan separatists during previous dialogues.

While he manages China’s military diplomacy, he is not part of the Central Military Commission, the main military decision-making body, leading some Western officials to perceive him as a figure of limited influence in power dynamics.

Last year’s forum was notably lacking a defense minister due to the removal of Dong’s predecessor amidst corruption investigations.