US and Chinese intelligence officials, along with more than 20 major intelligence agencies around the world , held a secret meeting on the sidelines of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue on June 4.
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| US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (center) attends the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 3. (Source: Reuters) |
Such meetings have been hosted by the Singapore government and held behind closed doors at a separate venue alongside the Shangri-La Dialogue for many years, Reuters reported.
There had been no previous reports that the meeting would take place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue this year. According to Reuters sources, this is an important fixture on the international “hidden” agenda and the tone is cooperative rather than confrontational.
"There is an unwritten rule among intelligence agencies that they can discuss when formal and public diplomacy is more difficult - that is a very important factor in times of tension and the Singapore incident helps to promote that," a source said.
US Director of National Intelligence, head of the US Intelligence Community, Ms. Avril Haines attended the event while China was among other countries also present, despite tensions between the two superpowers.
Mr. Samant Goel, head of India's overseas intelligence gathering agency (RAW), attended the meeting.
One of the sources said no Russian representatives were present. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Volodymr V Havrylov was present at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting.
One of the sources said that no Russian representatives were present at the meeting. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Volodymr V Havrylov was present at the Shangri-La Dialogue but said he did not attend the intelligence meeting.
Earlier, a spokesman for the Singapore Ministry of Defense said that when attending the Shangri-La Dialogue, delegates "including senior officials of intelligence agencies also have the opportunity to meet their counterparts."
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