Teodoro says ASEAN listened to PH position on maritime security

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in a press briefing following the conclusion of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), said China or any other country has no right to characterize ASEAN processes as a region. 

“They are dialogue partners so as much as we would want to accommodate them, it is subject to rules and limitations. The important fact is they were able to articulate their position in regional and maritime securities with a little additions,” said Teodoro.

China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang earlier issued a statement claiming that the “Philippines side has allowed a certain self-serving politician to act recklessly and abuse its chairmanship to put up obstacles to China’s participation.”

“Such moves seriously violate ASEAN’s principle of consensus through consultation and run counter to the open and inclusive spirit of the ADMM-Plus. They do not conform to basic diplomatic protocols, and undermine China’s legitimate rights as a member of the mechanism,” he claimed.

China sent Senior Captain Yang Lei, the Defense Attaché to the Philippines, to the ADMM. He was received by Department of National Defense Undersecretary Ignacio Madriaga during the welcoming ceremony.

“There has to be parity in rank and in statute. An undersecretary receiving an attache is more than courteous,” Teodoro said.

Her added that during the ADMM Plus meeting allowed the exchange of views and the opportunity to be heard between China and ASEAN.

Teodoro also said that ASEAN member countries do not feel the same way as China.

“Otherwise they would let me know. Anyway, they were given a chance to articulate their position which is not any different from what they articulating before,” Teodoro said.