China snubbed PH-hosted defense meet, ‘missed chance’ to show leadership – UP prof

MANILA — China’s decision to send a defense attaché instead of its defense minister to a regional security meeting in Cebu appeared intended to embarrass the Philippines, a University of the Philippines political science professor said.

Prof. Aries Arugay said Beijing missed an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and responsibility in addressing security challenges in the region by not sending Defense Minister Dong Jun to the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

“It’s quite unfortunate because it’s a chance for China to show some responsibility and some leadership in helping address some of the pressing security challenges,” Arugay told in a Headstart interview on Friday.

“And it’s quite sad that China lost or failed to grab this opportunity to somehow show that it’s a responsible superpower, that it is willing to engage with other states in addressing the many security challenges that faces the region.”

Arugay said he was not surprised by Beijing’s decision, given the strained relations between the Philippines and China, particularly on defense and security matters.

He also viewed the move as an apparent attempt to put the Philippines in an unfavorable position as host of the regional gathering.

“If you are a watcher of China and Philippine relations, this is really a hit or this is really intended to embarrass the host, which is the Philippines. And if there’s something that we’re good at, it’s hosting,” he said.

China announced that it would send its defense attaché in Manila to represent the country at the meeting instead of Dong. 

The ADMM-Plus brings together ASEAN defense ministers and their counterparts from eight dialogue partners, including China and the United States.

Arugay said the move was not a complete boycott since Beijing still sent a representative, but pointed out that the meeting was specifically designed for defense ministers.

“Well, if it’s really a boycott, then China would have completely been absent. So it still sent an official, although it’s really to show that we’re sending merely a defense attache. And the ADMM Plus is a mechanism for defense ministers,” he said.

He agreed with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. that parity in rank is important in defense diplomacy, adding that China’s decision also meant missing an opportunity to participate in collective regional security efforts.

“I often say that if you’re not at the table, then you’re missing out and you could be on the menu,” Arugay said. “We’re not saying that to China at the moment. But what we’re seeing is China trying to selectively pick and choose its engagements and simply using its sheer power to pressure certain countries who have decisively and deliberately only wanted to protect and promote interests and not create trouble for the region.”

Arugay, meanwhile, welcomed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines, saying it demonstrated Washington’s continued commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth joined regional defense officials in Cebu, where he proposed developing a US-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation.

“Secretary Hegseth’s visit is a good thing and this is actually a sign of US commitment in being present in the region and this is something that many analysts have already saying that they want the US to do more because we’ve seen how the ebbs and flows of US engagement in the region,” Arugay said.

He said stronger security cooperation with Washington could benefit Filipinos amid continuing regional tensions.

“But if we’re going to be pragmatic from a security and geopolitical standpoint, every time the US makes firm commitments in defending Philippine security interests, that’s a win for Filipinos, whether you’re security elites or whether you’re just ordinary people like us,” he said.

On the long-running negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Arugay said the Philippines should prioritize protecting its maritime interests over completing the agreement during its ASEAN chairmanship.

He said any final agreement should  be anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ideally reflect the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute, and include binding provisions and enforcement mechanisms.

“So for me, there’s no point of finalizing a code of conduct that is weak, that doesn’t have all of these protected red lines or bottom lines for the Philippines,” he said.

Arugay noted that negotiations have dragged on for decades, pointing out that the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed in 2002.

He said the Philippines should not sacrifice its interests simply to secure an agreement before handing over the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore.

“Let’s just wait because if the document is ugly, ugly for our interests, then even if we’re chair and we would want it finished in our term, it is in our best interest to still wait because if it’s a document that will not protect our interests or even undermine, then that’s not something that will be beneficial for us,” Arugay said. 

He also suggested pursuing bilateral arrangements with other South China Sea claimants, including Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, alongside broader ASEAN negotiations.