SINGAPORE—Extreme countries—global powers such as the United States and China—and rogue state North Korea took center stage in the Shangri-La Dialogue, a prestigious annual gathering of defense ministers, top military officers, academics, and security analysts, that ended Sunday (June 6).  

In a public display of antagonism that is alien to Asean diplomacy, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and China’s Gen. Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, blamed each other for their frosty military relations. China showed displeasure early this year when it called off high-level talks between the US and Chinese militaries over continued US arms sales to Taiwan.  

“It was not China that set up an obstacle to our military-to-military ties…US arms sales to Taiwan for the last 30 years interfere in US-China relations,” Gen. Ma said in response to a question during the Dialogue participated in by more than 300 delegates representing close to 30 countries.  

He continued: “We have temporarily suspended high-level exchanges but we maintain low-level functional visits.”  

In a major speech, Gates said China’s action “makes little sense” because US arms sales to Taiwan are “nothing new and have spanned multiple American administrations.” He stressed that “interruptions in our military relationship with China will not change US policy toward Taiwan” and that the US has “displayed in a very public way that we do not support independence for Taiwan.”  

The Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, has become an important venue for bilateral meetings of top defense officials. But this time, China and the US did not hold any meeting. Gates, the Singapore Straits Times reported, was miffed that China did not invite him to Beijing as part of his regional visit. In response, Gates did not meet any of the Chinese officials who were here for the Dialogue.  

The openness with which Gates and Ma talked about this major irritant in their relations provided spark to the Dialogue and showed a contrast to the way Asean officials conduct their diplomacy. Known for polite talk and a desire, as much as possible, not to publicly offend anyone, Asean leaders usually speak in subtle voices. 

The Dialogue serves an annual reminder to parochial countries like the Philippines of the volatility of the security environment.  

New leaders  

The ninth Shangri-La Dialogue took place amid leadership changes in some countries. Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned and his replacement, Naoto Kan, recently assumed office. Japan’s defense minister, Toshimi Kitazawa, remarked that he was no longer sure of attending the Dialogue until Kan called him to give his nod.  

The UK, an active participant in the Dialogue, has changed governments. Secretary of state for defense, Liam Fox, described the new government as one that “represents a generational step-change” in its approach to international affairs and will put “high priority” on its relationship with Asia.  

The Philippines was underrepresented this time as the country is in transition. Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales did not attend and Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit showed up but only briefly. No Philippine official also spoke in the small, off-the-record breakout groups that tackled themes ranging from nation-building amid conflict to security implications of climate change.  

North Korea  

The Dialogue was studded with strong jabs at the “international pariah,” North Korea, over its sinking in March of Cheonan, a South Korean ship patrolling its territorial waters, resulting in the death of 46 sailors. The attack, many said, was unprovoked.  

South Korea President Lee Myung-bak set the tone for the Dialogue in his keynote speech. In his deliberate manner, he explained that an international investigation—participated in by the US, United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden--has found evidence clearly pointing to North Korea as the culprit, describing it as the country that “refuses to change…and is living in the past.”  

“The wreckage that was salvaged…has been accurately determined as part of the propellant of a North Korean manufactured acoustic-sensored torpedo,” Lee said. 

Lee was elected president in 2007. Before that, he was CEO of Hyundai, where he started out as an entry-level employee and soared to the top of the corporation in 12 years. He later shifted to politics, became member of parliament and mayor of Seoul.  

His roots are modest. Lee described himself as a “young boy who once stood in line to receive used clothes from foreign missionaries.”  

What role does China play? Lee was asked. China, he replied, has the “most leverage” with North Korea: “I made specific requests with China. I look to China for support. North Korea has to apologize and pledge never to engage in such acts. I hope North Korea learns from China.”  

So far, South Korea has acted carefully so as not to provoke North Korea. It recently brought up its case against North Korea to the UN Security Council.  

“But if the enemy continues to taunt us, they must understand that there’s a limit and they will suffer the consequences,” Lee continued.  

Gates, for his part, was emphatic: “This sinking is far more than a single, isolated incident. It is part of a larger pattern of provocative and reckless behavior.”  

He teased the audience when he said that the US, together with South Korea and its other allies, are studying “many options” to deal with the recalcitrant country.  

Disaster relief  

Apart from hard security issues, the Dialogue tackled humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, subjects that proved to be practical. Chile shared its moving experience in dealing with the aftermath of the massive earthquake that devastated swaths of the country.  

Chile’s minister of defense, Jaime Ravinet de la Fuente, said that while the attention of the world is on other countries of Latin America—Brazil and Argentina are among the top 10 in football and are favorites in the upcoming World Cup—Chile has its global niche. It ranks among the top five countries with the most intense earthquakes.  The most recent that hit them was the equivalent of 77,000 Hiroshima bombs, De la Fuente said.  

In a speech full of empathy, De la Fuente shared lessons from Chile’s momentous experience: there is a need for a national emergency agency composed of civilians ( from utility companies) and military officers, a back-up communication system (Chile’s collapsed and only the satellite phones worked), and a military task force trained to handle emergencies brought about by disaster.  

The Philippines, like other countries, can share its own lessons, most especially from Ondoy, and learn as well from this distant country.