Commentary
I was reminded that Shangri-La is a fictional utopian paradise valley in Tibet as I read the remarks of the Chinese defence minister to the Singaporean security conference held in the hotel named after the mythical land.
In his speech on “China’s New Security Initiative,” Li Shangfu emphasised “a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum.”
He advanced a four-point proposal: Mutual respect should prevail over bullying and hegemony; fairness and justice should transcend the law of the jungle; eliminating conflicts and confrontation through mutual trust and consultation; and preventing bloc confrontation with openness and inclusiveness. …