China’s Ministry of National Defense responded that “Chinese Defense Minister did not attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus”

China News Service, Beijing, October 29 (Li Chun, Liu Mengqing) Chinese Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in Beijing on the 29th that the Philippines allowed individual politicians to use public assets for private purposes and set up numerous obstacles to prevent China from participating in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus. Despite this background, China still decided to send personnel to participate in the meeting, which reflects its responsible attitude towards regional defense and security cooperation.

On the same day, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference. A reporter asked that this year, the Chinese Defense Minister did not attend the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus held in the Philippines. China sent a military attaché to attend the meeting. What was the reason?

Zhang Xiaogang said that the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus is the highest-level and largest defense and security dialogue and cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its establishment in 2010, it has provided an important platform for countries to enhance mutual trust and cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability.

Zhang Xiaogang said that as the rotating chair of the current ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus, the Philippines has allowed individual politicians to act arbitrarily and use public weapons for private purposes, and has set up numerous obstacles to hinder China's participation in the meeting. This has seriously undermined the principle of consensus in ASEAN, seriously violated the open and inclusive spirit of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus, was inconsistent with basic diplomatic etiquette, and undermined China's legitimate rights as a member of the mechanism. Most ASEAN countries have questioned and opposed it.

Zhang Xiaogang pointed out that under this background, China still decided to send personnel to participate in the meeting, which reflects its firm support for ASEAN’s central position and its responsible attitude towards regional defense and security cooperation. The Philippines insists on going its own way, kidnapping ASEAN and causing trouble. It will weaken the reputation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus and destroy the unity and mutual trust among ASEAN countries. It will ultimately harm the fundamental interests of the Philippines and regional countries and people.

According to news on the website of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on the 27th of this month, on October 29, the Defense Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will attend the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Cebu as a representative of China. He will exchange views with all parties on adhering to dialogue and consultation, enhancing understanding and mutual trust, reaffirming his firm support for ASEAN’s central position in the regional architecture, promoting regional defense and security dialogue and cooperation, and contributing to maintaining regional peace and stability.