China tension shadows ASEAN talks

MACTAN, Cebu — The Philippines will push for stronger defense cooperation with the United States at regional security talks this week, with China yet to confirm if it will attend the gathering, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Tuesday.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed his attendance at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) from 26 to 30 October in Cebu, where discussions are expected to cover military modernization, capability building and maritime security.

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Manila’s bilateral discussions with Washington would focus on strengthening their longstanding alliance, particularly on operational cooperation and military modernization.

“It will probably go down to the operational levels, in terms especially of the US being a strong partner in terms of our modernization, and it will probably go along those lines, as well as on future capacity and capability building,” Andolong said.

China’s participation, however, remained uncertain. Andolong said Beijing had been invited but has not confirmed, including whether Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun would attend.

The uncertainty comes amid mounting tensions over the West Philippine Sea, including a diplomatic row sparked by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan’s recent remarks that China could “easily win” a conflict with the Philippines if it resorted to force.

Flashpoint

Describing his remarks as provocative and unacceptable, the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned Jing to explain on 19 October.

Meanwhile, Chinese ships continued to confront Philippine vessels in the disputed waters.

In early October, the Philippine Coast Guard accused Chinese coast guard vessels of obstructing a Philippine law enforcement operation against suspected dynamite fishermen near Pag-asa Island, while a Chinese military helicopter hovered over the area.

The dispute is shaped by the 12 July 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The tribunal rejected China’s claim to historic rights within its expansive nine-dash line where those claims exceeded the maritime entitlements allowed by the convention.

It also found that China had violated Philippine sovereign rights in parts of the country’s exclusive economic zone. The award is final and binding on both countries, although Beijing has rejected it. The ruling did not determine sovereignty over land features.

Andolong said the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea would likely figure in the talks.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is leading the Philippine delegation. The Philippines is expected to hand over the ASEAN defense ministers meeting chairmanship to Singapore on 29 October.

“Secretary Teodoro has mentioned in his previous engagements that the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea are almost always a part of the discussions in the ADMM, so we don’t think it will be any different at this time,” Andolong said.

No response

In September, the Philippine Navy invited a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy warship to join an ASEAN defense maritime security exercise in the West Philippine Sea. Beijing did not respond to the invitation.

The meetings in Cebu will bring together defense officials from the 10 ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

Maritime security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance are among the recurring areas of cooperation. The Philippines is also hosting informal defense meetings with the United States and Japan.

Andolong said the proposed joint statements were still subject to finalization and consensus among the participating countries.