INTRODUCTION
The IISS initiated the Shangri-La Dialogue (originally
has become institutionalised as a recurrent fixture in the
known as the ‘Asia Security Summit’) in 2002 in response
diaries of those invited as key delegates. Total delegate
to the evident need for a forum where the Asia-Pacific’s
numbers increased from approximately 160 in 2002, to
defence ministers could engage in dialogue aimed at
250 in 2006, 330 in 2010 to 364 in 2013 as a result of the
building confidence and fostering practical coopera-
IISS seeking to expand involvement by both govern-
tion. Today, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue remains the
mental and non-official delegates. In 2014, there was a
only annual meeting for defence ministers from across
25% increase in delegate numbers to 451, largely as a
the broad Asia-Pacific region. It also convenes chiefs of
result of the IISS inviting additional representatives of
defence staff, permanent heads of defence ministries
foreign ministries, and also more female and media del-
and (in a parallel meeting) intelligence chiefs from the
egates. Underlining the importance of the event for the
same region. It has established itself as a key element
Institute, there was also an especially strong contingent
of the emerging regional security architecture, and
of IISS research staff, Trustees, and Members of Council
maintains its status as the most important and most
at the 2014 Dialogue.
inclusive gathering of top-level defence professionals in
From the Dialogue’s beginning, many key national
the Asia-Pacific. By providing an agenda that responds
players in the Asia-Pacific ensured that they were rep-
specifically to their concerns and interests, and by facili-
resented at a high level. Even at the first Shangri-La
tating easy communication and fruitful contact among
Dialogue in 2002, 14 countries were represented by
them, the Shangri-La Dialogue has helped to cultivate
their defence ministers, deputy ministers, or close
a sense of community among the key policymakers
equivalents. In 2014, the following 16 countries were rep-
in the defence and security establishments of regional
resented at full ministerial level: Australia, Cambodia,
states and of those major powers with significant stakes
France, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
in Asia-Pacific security. Over the 12 years since the
Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
first Shangri-La Dialogue, growing openness has char-
Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the
acterised its discussions, and this was evident at the
United States and Vietnam. Deputy ministers or senior
thirteenth Dialogue in May–June 2014.
officials led the delegations from Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, the European Union, Germany, India, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia and Sri Lanka. In
MORE DELEGATES AND BROADER PARTICIPATION
addition, senior officials represented Chile, Colombia, Finland, Mexico and Norway.
Despite the expanding calls on the time and attention
Regional and international observers of the
of defence ministers, military chiefs, and top-ranking
Shangri-La Dialogue always take a close interest in
defence officials as a result of more recently-established
the level at which China is represented. Given China’s
series of meetings such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’
status as the world’s most populous country, its
Meeting and its offshoot, the ADMM-Plus, govern-
possession of nuclear weapons and permanent UN
ments have maintained and in some cases strengthened
Security Council membership, its rapidly growing
their participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue, which
economic and military power, and its close involve-
Introduction
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