China's defence minister urges greater unity to avoid 'law of the jungle'

18/9/2025 11:45

China's defence minister on Thursday urged greater efforts for global unity, warning against an increasingly divided world "defined by the rule of the jungle".



Speaking to formally open the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security, Dong Jun said the world was overshadowed by Cold War thinking, hegemony and protectionism.



"External military interference, seeking spheres of influence and coercing others to take sides will bring the international community into chaos," Dong said, adding that the world was at another "crossroads" and had to choose dialogue over confrontation.



Dong's remarks contained several veiled swipes at the United States and appeared more hawkish than his speech to open last year's forum.



"An obsession with absolute superiority in military strength and a 'might is right' approach will lead to a divided world defined by the rule of the jungle and disorder," Dong said. A strong Chinese military would be a force for peace, he added.



Dong's remarks follow recent speeches by President Xi Jinping against "hegemonism and power politics" and a large military parade in Beijing earlier this month that unveiled a host of new weapons.