China's defence minister has trumpeted Beijing's efforts to reshape global governance, warning against an increasingly divided world "defined by the rule of the jungle", while saying his country's strong military would be a force for peace.

The remarks come amid simmering tension between China and the United States and its allies and partners over flashpoints across East Asia, including Taiwan and the South China Sea, as well as broader economic rivalries under President Donald Trump.

Formally opening the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security, Dong Jun said the world was "at another crossroads: peace or war, dialogue or confrontation" overshadowed by Cold War thinking, hegemony and protectionism.

"External military interference, seeking spheres of influence and coercing others to take sid

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