At a military diplomacy forum held in Beijing on Friday, defense officials from China and Russia criticized Western nations, with China focusing on strengthening ties with the Global South and Russia accusing the United States of relocating military conflicts to the Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun addressed the annual Xiangshan Forum, emphasizing the importance of enhancing military cooperation with neighboring countries and developing nations. He stated, “Major countries must take the lead in safeguarding global security, abandon a zero-sum mindset, and refrain from bullying the small and the weak,” implicitly targeting the United States without naming it.

Despite ongoing tensions regarding the South China Sea, Taiwan, and concerns over China’s alliance with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, communication between U.S. and Chinese military officials has improved.

Tensions were highlighted by Germany’s defense minister confirming that two German warships had transited the Taiwan Strait on Friday, marking the first such passage in two decades, which China condemned.

Dong’s comments were directed at representatives from 90 countries and international organizations during the three-day forum, which concludes on Saturday. He urged regional nations to “seek strength through unity and rely on themselves for their own peace.”

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin also spoke at the forum, asserting that the U.S. is attempting to contain both China and Russia while preparing for conflict in Asia by forming new security alliances. He stated, “Russia and China support the creation of a just, multipolar world order based on equality and mutual respect.”

Fomin warned that NATO countries are planning to send troops to Ukraine to pressure Russia into negotiations based on Kyiv’s terms, describing this as a perilous strategy that could lead to direct conflict between nuclear powers.

NATO has denied any plans to deploy troops to Ukraine, while Kyiv accuses Russia of attempting to impose its own peace conditions and demands a withdrawal of Russian forces along with the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.