US releases ‘Mad Dog’ at Shangri-La
US Defense Secretary James Mattis failed to placate China’s fears that the US government, under the Trump administration, was taking China as a serious existential threat at the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore.
This was Mattis’ second year speaking at the summit, which brings together senior defence officials from around Asia. The facility was under heavy security the entire show, including the use of elite Gurkha soldiers.
Though top defence officials gave speeches and had bilateral meetings, China sent only ‘academic’ officials representing think tanks and universities. The lack of representation from political elites from Beijing was noticeable and
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