On May 15, 2026, in Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany’s chief of defense, General Carsten Breuer, participated in a panel discussion during the 104th German Catholic Day. The event was centered around the theme “Between deterrence and diplomacy,” capturing the delicate balance nations must maintain in today’s turbulent global landscape. This discussion was captured in an image by Sven Hoppe of dpa, underlining the seriousness of the dialogue.
In a significant commentary at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Breuer expressed concern over China’s absence from the annual defense forum with a high-level delegation. During a media roundtable on the sidelines of the event, he pointed out that the lack of dialogue from China at a ministerial level marked a missed opportunity, particularly in what he described as a “contested” global environment.
The absence was noteworthy as China’s defense minister, Dong Jun, opted to skip the conference for the second consecutive year. Instead, Beijing was represented by Major General Meng Xiangqing from the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University. This decision seemed to underscore China’s current diplomatic strategy, albeit one that Breuer suggested was risky.
Breuer didn’t mince words, emphasizing the precariousness of the current global situation. Reflecting on his extensive military career spanning over four decades, he remarked, “In my 42 years as a soldier, I’ve never experienced such dangerous times as today.” His comments underscored the urgency of maintaining open channels of communication between nations to navigate the complex challenges faced globally.
This was “dangerous,” he said, warning that, “in my 42 years as a soldier, I’ve never experienced such dangerous times like we are living in the world as today.”
Breuer’s comments came after China’s defense minister Dong Jun skipped the conference for a second straight year, with Beijing sending a lower-level delegation led by Major General Meng Xiangqing from the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University.
“I strongly recommend to use each and every dialog forum to discuss with each other and to compare not only notes but also opinions … . [From] my perspective, this is necessary.”
His comments also come after U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called out China earlier on Saturday, saying that “no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
This does not mean there is no contact with China. The German defense chief said that dialog is still occurring with the members of the Chinese delegation here, “but of course, it would be better to have it on a higher level,” Breuer added.
Breuer was asked if the conversations he had were a “real dialogue,” or a matter of both sides simply stating their positions and walking away.
“I see it as a real dialogue … of course, you have your national positions, and this is clear, but also within those national positions, you can explain, and this is what we are doing, especially on the military side,” the German general replied.
Other countries top defense officials hold different views, however.
“I feel that as a value proposition, their presence here is reduced to a minimum…which is to promote the party line rather than to engage constructively,” Philippines national defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro told CNBC.
“So, insofar as I’m concerned, it’s no major loss for me,” Teodoro added.
