MANILA: Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday (Oct 29) rejected China’s accusation that the Philippines abused its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) defence meetings to obstruct Beijing’s participation, saying the allegation did not reflect the regional bloc’s position.
Teodoro responded to Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, who accused Manila of violating Asean’s consensus-based principles and undermining China’s rights as a dialogue partner.
“Insofar as Asean is concerned, I do not believe our Asean member countries feel that way, if not they would have let me know,” Teodoro said at a press conference in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Thursday, following the 13th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).
“So it is China’s position, it is not Asean’s position,” he added.
Zhang earlier accused the Philippines of allowing a “self-serving politician” to abuse its chairmanship of the 13th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) on Oct 28 and 29.
The Chinese official made the accusation when asked why Beijing sent its defence attaché instead of its defence minister to the meeting.
“The Philippine side has allowed a certain self-serving politician to act recklessly and abuse its chairmanship to put up obstacles to China’s participation,” Zhang said in a statement shared on Thursday by the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
He claimed that Manila’s actions violated Asean’s principle of consensus through consultation, disregarded diplomatic protocols and undermined China’s legitimate rights as a member of the mechanism.
Zhang also alleged that several Asean countries had questioned and opposed the Philippines’ actions.
Teodoro, however, maintained that only Asean member states could determine how the regional bloc conducts its meetings.
“No country has the right to characterise Asean processes except Asean member countries. They are dialogue partners,” he said.
“As much as we would want to accommodate them, it is subject to rules and limitations,” he added.
The defense chief stressed that China’s representative was given an opportunity to present Beijing’s position on regional and maritime security issues during the meeting.
“The important fact is they were able to articulate their position on regional and maritime securities,” Teodoro said.
He added that the Philippines allowed a robust exchange of views among participating countries, including China.
“How they are going to be heard is for Asean proper to determine and not anybody else,” he said.
Asked why he did not personally receive the Chinese defence attaché, Teodoro cited the difference in rank between the two officials.
“There should [be] some parity in rank and in stature. So I think an undersecretary receiving an attaché, that is already more than courteous,” he said.
Teodoro also confirmed that China raised the South China Sea issue during the ADMM-Plus discussions, but declined to detail the interventions or reactions of other participating countries.
He said Beijing’s position was no different from its previous statements on regional security issues.
The ADMM-Plus brings together Asean defence ministers and eight dialogue partners, including China, the US, Japan, Australia, India, South Korea, New Zealand and Russia.
The Philippines chaired this year’s meetings as part of its 2026 Asean chairmanship. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
