(Photo courtesy of the DND)
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday rejected China’s claim that several ASEAN member states had questioned the Philippines’ handling of Beijing’s participation in the recently concluded ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu.
In an interview with ANC, Teodoro said no ASEAN member had formally raised concerns with him regarding the Philippines’ conduct as chair of the regional defense gathering.
“No, that’s not true. If not, they would have told me directly in a letter addressed to me or a phone call addressed to me. That did not happen,” Teodoro said.
The defense chief accused China of violating ASEAN’s principles of solidarity, unity and centrality by purportedly speaking on behalf of member states without their authorization.
“No external party can speak for and on behalf of any ASEAN member country. So China is arrogating unto itself a prerogative of ASEAN and a confidentiality or a process which belongs solely to ASEAN,” he said.
Teodoro questioned whether Beijing was attempting to exert influence over the regional bloc by making statements supposedly representing the views of ASEAN members.
He stressed that China should raise any concerns directly with ASEAN member states and dialogue partners rather than make claims on their behalf.
According to Teodoro, other ADMM-Plus participants, including Russia, had expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the defense meetings.
China earlier accused the Philippines of deliberately obstructing its participation in the ADMM-Plus, alleging that Manila allowed a “certain politician” to misuse its chairmanship by imposing obstacles on Beijing.
Responding to the allegation, Teodoro pointed to China’s activities in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc and Mischief Reef.
“Now, to call my acts in any way obstructionism, I mean, what are they doing in Bajo de Masinloc and Mischief Reef? That is not only obstructionism, but that is also more than obstructing, that is already usurping,” he said.
Teodoro maintained that the successful conduct of both the ADMM and ADMM-Plus contradicted China’s allegations.
“The success was touted by no less than ASEAN member countries, which are the important parts of this because they are the mechanism of the ADMM,” he added.
The Philippines chaired the defense meetings in Cebu as part of its ASEAN leadership responsibilities, bringing together regional defense officials and dialogue partners to discuss security cooperation and regional stability.
