South China Sea Military Diplomacy

Chinese Defense Minister Holds Talks with Bruneian Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II

China Military Online (EN) 28 July 2026

Summary

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met Brunei's Minister of Defence II Pehin Halbi in Bandar Seri Begawan on July 28, 2026, with both sides committing to implement consensus from a prior heads-of-state meeting and deepen bilateral military coordination, explicitly including joint management of South China Sea stability. The meeting documents Beijing's ongoing effort to cultivate bilateral defense ties with a South China Sea claimant state whose position on maritime disputes has historically been more restrained than Vietnam's or the Philippines'; the joint reference to 'safeguarding peace and stability' in the South China Sea fits a pattern of China framing bilateral military diplomacy with ASEAN partners as a counterweight to U.S.-aligned regional security arrangements, though the communiqué does not specify what concrete cooperation was agreed.

Translation

BEIJING, July 28 -- Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, who is visiting Brunei upon invitation, held talks with Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II of Brunei Darussalam on July 28, 2026. The two sides held in-depth exchange of views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, the international and regional situation, as well as issues of mutual concern. They agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, further deepen strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two militaries, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Prior to the talks, Pehin Halbi hosted a welcoming ceremony for Admiral Dong Jun and accompanied him to inspect the guard of honor.

Original text

BEIJING, July 28 -- Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, who is visiting Brunei upon invitation, held talks with, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II of Brunei Darussalam on July 28, 2026. The two sides held in-depth exchange of views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, the international and regional situation, as well as issues of mutual concern. They agreed to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, further deepen strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two militaries, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Prior to the talks, Pehin Halbi hosted a welcoming ceremony for Admiral Dong Jun and accompanied him to inspect the guard of honor.