- published: 03 Jun 2017
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The IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is a "Track One" inter-governmental security forum held annually by an independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) which is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific states. The forum gets its name from the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore where it has been held since 2002.
The summit serves to cultivate a sense of community among the most important policymakers in the defence and security community in the region. Government delegations have made the best out of the meeting by holding bilateral meetings with other delegations on the sidelines of the conference. While primarily an inter-governmental meeting, the summit is also attended by legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists and business delegates.
The participants have included Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, East Timor, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
James N. Mattis (born September 8, 1950) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who last served as the 11th commander of United States Central Command. Mattis is known for his military legacy, including implementing the COIN strategy. Having replaced David Petraeus on August 11, 2010, he previously commanded United States Joint Forces Command from November 9, 2007, to August 2010 and served concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from November 9, 2007, to September 8, 2009. Prior to that, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Forces Central Command, and 1st Marine Division during the Iraq War. General Mattis retired on May 22, 2013, after 44 years of service.
Mattis was born in Pullman, Washington on September 8, 1950. He graduated from Columbia High School, Richland, Washington, in 1968 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1969. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Central Washington University and was commissioned a second lieutenant through ROTC on January 1, 1972. Mattis during his service years was considered something of an intellectual among the upper ranks, with his personal library numbering more than a thousand volumes. Major General Robert H. Scales (ret.)(PhD), described him as "....one of the most urbane and polished men I have known." Reinforcing this intellectual persona was the fact that he carried on his person a copy of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius throughout his deployments.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a British research institute (or think tank) in the area of international affairs. Since 1997 its headquarters have been Arundel House, in London. The 2013 Global Go To Think Tank Index ranked IISS as the ninth best think tank worldwide.
Founded in 1958, with its original focus nuclear deterrence and arms control, the IISS has strong establishment links, with former US and British government officials among its members. The institute claims that it "was hugely influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold War."
Raymond L. Garthoff wrote in 2004:
The second issue appeared under the title 'The Communist Bloc and the Free World: The Military Balance 1960'.
The current Director-General and Chief Executive is Dr John Chipman CMG. The Chairman of the Council is Francois Heisbourg, a former Director. Sir Michael Howard, the British military historian, is President Emeritus. Sir Michael founded the institute together with the British Labour M.P. Denis Healey (Defence Secretary 1964–1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer 1974–1979) and journalist Alastair Buchan.
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2017: First Plenary Session: General (Retd) James Mattis
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2017: Fifth Plenary Q+A
IISS Fullerton Lecture - Debating the contemporary international order
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2017: General (Retd) James Mattis
IISS Webinar: The Military Balance 2016: Key findings and interactive discussion
IISS Fullerton Lecture - India, the United States and China
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2017: Day 3 Highlights
IISS Fullerton Forum 2017: Special Address and Dinner
IISS Fullerton Forum 2017: Keynote Address
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2017: Keynote Address - Malcolm Turnbull
Fu Ying, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People's Congress, examines the current international order and the challenges it faces and assesses Beijing's position and role in the evolving order.
President Obama’s visit to India on its Republic Day in January 2015 and the Modi – Xi meeting in Xian in May highlight a more active Indian foreign policy. Strengthened by a return to higher growth rates and a stronger political position, the Modi government is also directly linking its diplomacy to its development programmes at home. These developments portend a shift in the Asian strategic picture and are of particular interest to ASEAN that occupies its crossroads. In his Fullerton Lecture, India’s Foreign Secretary Dr S Jaishankar discussed these possibilities and challenges and spoke on the interplay of India, the US and China.
Off with your head
Dance 'til you're dead
Heads will roll, heads will roll
Heads will roll on the floor
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The river's all wet
You're all cold
Dripping with alchemy
Shiver stop shivering
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, oh no
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, the girls cry out
The men cry out, oh no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Off, off with your head
Dance, dance 'til you're dead
Heads will roll, heads will roll
Heads will roll on the floor
Looking glass, take the past
Shut your eyes, you realize
Looking glass, take the past
Shut your eyes, you realize
Glitter on the wet streets
Silver over everything
The glitter's all wet
You're all chrome, you're all chrome
Oh, oh, oh
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head
Dance, dance, dance 'til you're dead
Off, off, off with your head