China was represented on 29 October at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu by the defence attache at its Manila embassy rather than its defence minister. Beijing put the responsibility on the Philippine host, while Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. replied that this is ‘China’s position, not ASEAN’s’.
According to the Global Times and Philippine media, the 20th ADMM and 13th ADMM-Plus were held on 28-29 October in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province, with China represented by Senior Capt. Yang Lei, the defence attache at its embassy in the Philippines. Chinese media described it as the lowest-level Chinese attendance since the forum began in 2010. Apart from 2023, when a Ministry of National Defence delegation went, the defence minister attended the other 11 sessions, and Dong Jun was in Kuala Lumpur last year.
광고 문의 · 300×250When it announced the attache on the 27th, China’s Ministry of National Defence said he would stress dialogue and consultation, mutual understanding and trust, and support for ASEAN centrality. On the 26th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun had said the forum should help regional dialogue and that China opposes any force using a public platform for private ends, hijacking ASEAN and stirring up trouble.
Beijing’s account: ‘the responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines’
The Global Times ran a commentary by Yang Congyi arguing that behind China’s lower-level attendance lies someone in the Philippines misusing a public platform. The paper quoted Ding Duo of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies as saying the responsibility lies ‘entirely’ with the Philippines, and that a chair should run a meeting neutrally rather than use it to hype the South China Sea. The Chinese embassy also claimed that Teodoro has cut military communication for three years and does not intend to restore it; this is Beijing’s claim, and no official Philippine confirmation was found.
On the 29th, Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accused the Philippines, as chair, of letting a ‘self-serving politician’ act recklessly and obstruct China’s participation, in breach of ASEAN’s consensus rule and the openness and inclusiveness of ADMM-Plus. He said several ASEAN countries had questioned Manila’s handling. Local media citing Reuters said it was unclear who the politician is or what obstacles were meant.
Manila’s reply: ‘ASEAN procedures are set by member states’
According to the Daily Tribune and other Philippine outlets, Teodoro, who chaired the meetings, denied at the closing press conference on the 29th that the Philippines had blocked China’s participation. He said it was ‘China’s position, not ASEAN’s’, adding that other members would otherwise have told him. Dialogue partners take part ‘subject to rules and limitations’, he said, and ‘no country has the right to characterize ASEAN processes except ASEAN member countries’.
The welcome protocol was also read differently. Reports say Defence Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga received Yang while Teodoro personally greeted the other defence ministers. Teodoro said there should be ‘parity’ in rank and that an undersecretary’s welcome was already ‘more than courteous’. He confirmed China’s representative was given time to speak on regional and international security and that the South China Sea was raised, but would not give details of the remarks or other ministers’ reactions.
Before the meeting, the Philippine defence department’s spokesperson said an invitation had been sent to China but no list of attendees confirmed, and that a Chinese navy ship invited to a maritime security drill in September did not respond. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also attended; the two countries remain at odds over Second Thomas Shoal and China’s entry ban on Teodoro. With the accounts in direct conflict, whether other ASEAN members state an official position is likely to shape where the dispute goes next.
