China downgrades participation at Southeast Asian bloc’s summit of defense chiefs
- Defense attache of Chinese Embassy in Manila to attend 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Cebu city of Philippines
By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) - China has downgraded its participation at the defense chiefs summit of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), set to be held this week in the Philippines, the bloc's current chair.
“The defense attache of the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines will represent the Chinese side to attend the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus,” China’s Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
The top defense officials of the 11-member bloc will convene in the Filipino city of Cebu on Wednesday and Thursday.
Last year, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun had attended the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, when Malaysia helmed the regional bloc.
The bloc will also hold bilateral meetings with defense chiefs of partner nations, including the US, which will be represented by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
According to China’s Defense Ministry, its representatives “will exchange views with other parties on upholding dialogue and enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and reiterate China's firm support to ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture to promote regional defense and security dialogue and cooperation, and safeguard peace and stability in the region.”
Notably, Beijing's decision to downgrade its participation comes as ties between China and the Philippines have seen persistent tensions, especially over the disputed South China Sea, where the two maritime neighbors have overlapping claims.
Early this year, China sanctioned the Philippines' defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and his immediate family, accusing him of making remarks that harmed China's interests and bilateral relations.
Teodoro had "repeatedly made irresponsible remarks on China" that undermined Beijing's legitimate interests and “sabotaged” China-Philippines ties,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in June.
Separately, China and Indonesia Tuesday launched "Sharp Knife 2026" joint army counterterrorism training in southern Guangdong province of China, state-run Xinhua News reported.
The participating troops from the two nations are scheduled to begin specialized training in reconnaissance, communications, unmanned systems, sniping, and counterterrorism, the report said, adding the drills will run until early November.
Riyaz Khaliq Khaliq