The 21st edition of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defense summit, opened in Singapore on May 31, with over 55 delegates from the defense and security establishments of over 40 nations around the world gathering to discuss global defense and security affairs.

The escalating tensions in South China Sea are unsurprisingly high on the agenda. Who is muddying the waters against the common aspiration for peace and stability shared by China and ASEAN? By strengthening cooperation with the U.S., is the Philippines safeguarding regional security, or merely pulling chestnuts out of the fire for the U.S.? And what signal does the first face-to-face meeting, in nearly two years, between the defense chiefs of China and the U.S. send? CGTN host Xu Qingduo brings you the latest from the heart of the action.