ASEAN ‘must not allow differences to divide us from within,’ Philippines defense chief tells counterparts

By Aamir Latif

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday told Southeast Asian defense chiefs that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “must not allow differences to divide us from within.”

He made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), which he chaired in the Philippine city of Cebu.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and the defense ministers of the bloc’s member states attended the meeting, ASEAN said in a post on US social media company X.

The Philippines, the current chair of the 11-member bloc, is hosting the summit under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”

The meeting issued a joint statement by ASEAN defense ministers commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the 20th anniversary of the ADMM.

The defense ministers also agreed on various new ADMM initiatives and activities.

Teodoro urged member states to settle regional disputes, including those in the South China Sea, through “peaceful and legal means.”

“ASEAN was founded on the belief that our strength lies in our diversity. We must therefore not allow our differences to divide us from within, and where such differences exist, including in the South China Sea, we shall settle them through peaceful and legal means,” local English-language news outlet Rappler quoted Teodoro as saying.

The ASEAN defense chiefs will also hold the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, along with separate meetings with defense chiefs from the US, India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun skipped the summit, with the defense attache of China’s Embassy in Manila attending in his place.

Amir Latif Arain