China says Philippines obstructed its attendance at ASEAN defence ministers' meeting
China's defence ministry accused the Philippines of putting "obstacles" in the way of its attendance at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, where it sent only an attache. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said this was China's view, not ASEAN's.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Thursday 29 October 2026, China's defence ministry accused the Philippines of "erecting multiple obstacles" to China's participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held in the Philippines that week. Arab NewsRC “Beijing accused Manila on Thursday of “erecting multiple obstacles” for its attendance at an ASEAN meeting in the Philippines this week” Read at Arab News ↗ South China Morning PostN “China has accused the Philippines of setting up “numerous obstacles” to attending a meeting” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Mixed · 2China was represented by an attache rather than by Defence Minister Dong Jun. According to the South China Morning Post, this was the lowest-ranking Chinese representation at the event since it was first held in 2010. Arab NewsRC “where China will be represented by an embassy attache” Read at Arab News ↗ South China Morning PostN “the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the event since it was first held in 2010” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Mixed · 2Defence ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said Manila had allowed "certain politicians" to abuse public power for personal agendas. He did not name them, according to the South China Morning Post. South China Morning PostN “He did not name the politicians he was targeting for criticism.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Arab NewsRC “The Philippine side has allowed certain politicians to use public office for private ends” Read at Arab News ↗
Centre · 1Zhang also said Manila had "severely undermined the Asean principle of consensus", disregarded "basic diplomatic protocols", infringed China's rights as a member of the mechanism, and was "holding Asean hostage and stirring up trouble". He said China's decision to send representation showed its "firm support for Asean centrality". South China Morning PostN “severely undermined the Asean principle of consensus, flagrantly violated the spirit of openness and inclusivity inherent to the ADMM-Plus”“holding Asean hostage and stirring up trouble” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Mixed · 2Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr rejected the accusations. He said ASEAN countries do not share the Chinese ministry's view, that no country has the right to characterise ASEAN processes, and that China had been given the chance to state its position. Arab NewsRC “ASEAN countries do not share the view of China’s defense ministry” Read at Arab News ↗ South China Morning PostN ““It is China’s position; it is not Asean’s position,” Teodoro told reporters at the meeting.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Dong Jun did not attend. The South China Morning Post noted that the meeting coincided with a major Communist Party gathering in Beijing, which Dong attended as a Central Committee member. South China Morning PostN “The summit also coincided with a major Communist Party gathering in Beijing, which Dong attended as a member of the Central Committee.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Centre · 1Local media reports cited by the South China Morning Post said Teodoro did not personally welcome the Chinese delegation. Defence undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga met the Chinese defence attache, Senior Captain Yang Lei, while Teodoro greeted other delegations. South China Morning PostN “Teodoro did not personally welcome the Chinese delegation.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1The meeting, in Lapu-Lapu, brought together ASEAN defence leaders and eight dialogue partners. Manila and its partners focused on the South China Sea dispute. Teodoro, without naming China, urged members to reject the threat or use of force and uphold international law. On the sidelines, the United States and Japan announced a joint production facility in Japan for advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. South China Morning PostN “Without explicitly naming China during his formal opening remarks, Teodoro urged participating nations to reject the threat or use of force and uphold international law.”“the United States and Japan announced an agreement to establish a joint production facility in Japan” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1The row follows years of tension over competing South China Sea claims, including repeated confrontations between coastguard and maritime militia vessels near disputed features. South China Morning PostN “The latest row reflects the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Detailed account of a diplomatic row set within South China Sea tensions, with context on protocol, the rank of China's representative and the meeting's agenda.
- Emphasis
- China's specific charges, the lowest-ranking Chinese attendance since 2010, Dong Jun's absence, reports of Teodoro not greeting the delegation, and the US-Japan missile announcement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give an independent account of what the alleged obstacles were.
- Charged language
- “holding Asean hostage and stirring up trouble”
- For example
-
“the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the event since it was first held in 2010” — South China Morning Post
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Short AFP wire item presenting China's accusation, followed by the Philippine defence minister's rebuttal.
- Emphasis
- The accusation of obstacles and Teodoro's statement that ASEAN does not share China's view.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the background on rank, Dong Jun's absence, and the meeting's wider agenda.
- Charged language
- “erecting multiple obstacles”
- For example
-
“Beijing accused Manila on Thursday of “erecting multiple obstacles” for its attendance” — Arab News
What every side reports
- China's defence ministry accused the Philippines of obstructing its participation in the ADMM-Plus.
- China sent an attache rather than its defence minister.
- Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said China's view is not ASEAN's.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether China was obstructed and whether ASEAN shares Beijing's view
- Centre
- SCMP reports China's accusation of violating protocols and consensus, and Teodoro's reply that it is "China's position; it is not Asean's position".
- Right
- Arab News (AFP) relays the Chinese accusation and Teodoro's statement that ASEAN countries do not share China's view and no country can characterise ASEAN processes.
China place
Says the Philippines undermined ASEAN consensus and diplomatic protocol and hindered its participation, while stressing support for ASEAN centrality.
“firm support for Asean centrality and a responsible approach towards regional security cooperation” — South China Morning Post
Philippines place
Through Defence Secretary Teodoro, says the complaint is China's own position, not ASEAN's, and that China was able to state its view.
““It is China’s position; it is not Asean’s position,” Teodoro told reporters at the meeting.” — South China Morning Post
Association of Southeast Asian Nations organisation
No ASEAN statement is reported; Teodoro says ASEAN members do not share China's assessment and that ASEAN determines how its members are heard.
“How ASEAN countries are heard is for ASEAN to determine” — Arab News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
China accuses Philippines of setting up ‘obstacles’ to attending Asean defence meeting
Neutral Detailed report on the row, giving both sides and context on South China Sea tensions.
Right1 article
-
Arab NewsRC · · via AFP
Beijing says Philippines ‘erected obstacles’ to ASEAN attendance
Neutral AFP wire copy running China's accusation alongside the Philippine rebuttal.
- 29 Oct 08:36 First Arab NewsRC Beijing says Philippines ‘erected obstacles’ to ASEAN attendance via AFP
- 29 Oct 12:02 +3h 26m South China Morning PostN China accuses Philippines of setting up ‘obstacles’ to attending Asean defence meeting
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…