Hegseth to visit Philippines for ASEAN defence meetings; China warns against "hijacking"
The Pentagon said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to the Philippines this week for the ASEAN defence ministers' meeting with partners. China's foreign ministry said it opposes anyone using the platform to "hijack ASEAN".
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1The Pentagon announced on Sunday that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to the Philippines this week to meet regional allies. South China Morning PostN “US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to the Philippines this week to meet regional allies, the Pentagon announced on Sunday.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 2According to the Pentagon, Hegseth will attend the defence ministers' meeting and take part in bilateral and multilateral engagements to strengthen deterrence, advance key alliances and partnerships, and expand burden sharing across the region. South China Morning PostN “The meetings aimed to “strengthen deterrence, advance key alliances and partnerships, and expand burden sharing across the region”, the Pentagon added.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Hegseth is set to hold bilateral and multilateral meetings to strengthen deterrence, advance key alliances and partnerships, and expand burden-sharing across the region, according to the Pentagon.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The Philippines chairs ASEAN this year under the bloc's rotation system. It will host the annual summit in Manila next month, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus, which includes partner nations, is due this week. South China Morning PostN “The Philippines is hosting the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila next month” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus will begin on Wednesday in Manila, capital of the 11-member bloc’s current chair, the Philippines” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 2The reports give different locations for the defence meeting: the South China Morning Post says Cebu, while Anadolu Agency says Manila. South China Morning PostN “the bloc’s defence ministers will meet with regional partners – including the United States – at the end of this month in Cebu.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus will begin on Wednesday in Manila” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China opposes attempts to use the platform to seek selfish gains, hijack ASEAN or create trouble. He named no country or individual, and said the meeting should help regional countries step up dialogue, boost trust and promote cooperation. Anadolu AgencyN “"We oppose attempts by anyone to use this platform to seek selfish gains, hijack ASEAN, or create trouble," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing, without naming any country or individual.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The South China Morning Post says the meeting is attended by eight dialogue partners, including the US, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia and New Zealand. Neither China nor the Philippines has confirmed whether Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, who attended the last two gatherings, will be present. South China Morning PostN “Neither China nor the Philippines have confirmed whether Defence Minister Dong Jun – who attended the last two gatherings – would be present.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “China has not said whether or not a Chinese delegation will attend this week's summit under the plus format.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1The SCMP places the trip within a US push to tighten Indo-Pacific security ties ahead of an expected Trump–Xi meeting at the APEC summit in Shenzhen. It adds that Hegseth has faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over the war against Iran and concerns that it could divert US attention from the Indo-Pacific. South China Morning PostN “The visit comes amid a push by Washington to tighten security ties in the Indo-Pacific ahead of an expected meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in southern China.”“has faced criticism from Democrats and some Republicans over his handling of the war against Iran” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1Side meetings are possible. Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said the informal "Squad" grouping of the US, the Philippines, Australia and Japan was likely to meet on the sidelines, possibly at defence-minister level. Washington has confirmed that the Quad, which includes India but not the Philippines, will also meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. South China Morning PostN “Romualdez also said the meetings may involve the countries’ defence ministers”“Washington has confirmed that the Quad – a four-way gathering that includes India but not the Philippines – would also meet on the sidelines of the Asean summit.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Centre · 1The trip also comes amid South China Sea tensions, with confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships near disputed features. President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has taken a more assertive stance than his predecessor, and Manila has strengthened ties with the US and other allies. South China Morning PostN “The dispute has resulted in a series of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships near disputed features, prompting Manila to strengthen its relations with the US and other allies.” 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.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- SCMP leads with the Pentagon announcement and sets it against US–China rivalry, the Iran war and South China Sea tensions. Anadolu leads with China's warning against "hijacking" the meeting, with the Pentagon's goals added.
- Emphasis
- SCMP stresses the geopolitical context, the Squad and Quad side meetings and domestic criticism of Hegseth. Anadolu stresses China's statement and the meeting format.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu omits the wider US–China, Iran and South China Sea context. SCMP predates and omits China's "hijack" remark.
- Charged language
- “hijack ASEAN”“peace through strength”
- For example
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“to reaffirm America’s commitment to peace through strength in the Pacific” — South China Morning Post
“We oppose attempts by anyone to use this platform to seek selfish gains, hijack ASEAN, or create trouble” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Hegseth is set to attend the ASEAN defence ministers' meeting with partner nations in the Philippines this week.
- The Pentagon says the trip is meant to strengthen deterrence, advance alliances and partnerships, and expand burden-sharing.
- China has not said whether a delegation will attend.
Where accounts differ
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Where the defence ministers' meeting takes place
- Centre
- SCMP says Cebu; Anadolu says Manila.
Pete Hegseth person
Through the Pentagon, Hegseth's trip is presented as reaffirming US commitment to peace through strength in the Pacific and strengthening deterrence and burden-sharing.
“to reaffirm America’s commitment to peace through strength in the Pacific” — South China Morning Post
China place
China's foreign ministry opposes using the platform to seek selfish gains or hijack ASEAN, without naming anyone, and says the meeting should promote dialogue, trust and cooperation.
“We oppose attempts by anyone to use this platform to seek selfish gains, hijack ASEAN, or create trouble” — Anadolu Agency
Philippines place
As ASEAN chair, Manila aims to promote regional cooperation and strengthen ties with the US and its closest allies.
“Manila is looking to use its chairmanship of Asean – which it holds under the bloc’s annual rotation system – to promote broader regional cooperation and strengthen ties with the US and its closest allies.” — South China Morning Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Pentagon chief Hegseth to visit Philippines to meet US allies at Asean events
Neutral Announcement-led report that places the trip in US–China rivalry, the Iran war and South China Sea tensions.
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China urges against 'hijacking' ASEAN defense chiefs' meeting as Hegseth heads to Philippines
Neutral Leads with China's warning against "hijacking" the meeting, then relays the Pentagon's stated aims.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 26 Oct 11:03 First South China Morning PostN Pentagon chief Hegseth to visit Philippines to meet US allies at Asean events
- 26 Oct 13:37 +2h 34m Anadolu AgencyN China urges against 'hijacking' ASEAN defense chiefs' meeting as Hegseth heads to Philippines
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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