On May 30 local time, Professor Meng Xiangqing, head of the delegation of experts and scholars from the Peoples Liberation Army, attended the first parallel session of the Shangri-La Dialogue, titled How to Manage Threats to Strategic Stability, and delivered a speech.
He stated that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. This just judgment has forever branded the heinous crimes of Japanese militarism onto the pillar of historical shame, and it also laid the important legal foundation for the post-war international order. However, today, there are still some forces who openly glorify war crimes, promote incorrect views of World War II history, and attempt to challenge the conclusions of the Tokyo Trials. They even take practical actions that go against the constraints of the post-war peace regime. Can a country that has not completely eradicated the legacy of militarism truly deserve to discuss defense cooperation in international forums? Can it gain the trust of the international community, especially those Asian countries that were once invaded by this country? I have serious doubts. The lessons of the past are not far away. Todays world stands at a new crossroads, and we must be vigilant against any attempt by militarist ideologies to re-emerge. We must truly safeguard the achievements of World War II and the post-war international order.
The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue opened in Singapore on the evening of the 29th. More than 550 officials, defense experts, and scholars from over 40 countries and regions attended the event. The Shangri-La Dialogue will feature six plenary sessions, two ministerial roundtable meetings, three special sessions, and one special speech. A delegation of experts and scholars from the Peoples Liberation Army of China was invited to participate in this dialogue. This dialogue will continue until May 31st.
