China Opposes Attempts to Hijack ASEAN Defense Talks
"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 identifying any country or individual.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus is scheduled to open on Wednesday in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 11-member regional bloc. The country is also preparing to host the organization's annual summit next month.
Guo emphasized that the expanded defense meeting, which brings ASEAN members together with partner countries, should help strengthen communication, build mutual confidence and encourage greater regional cooperation.
Beijing has yet to confirm whether Chinese representatives will participate in this week's gathering under the expanded format.
Meanwhile, Hegseth is expected to conduct bilateral and multilateral discussions during the meeting, focusing on strengthening deterrence, reinforcing key alliances and partnerships, as well as encouraging countries across the region to share security responsibilities more broadly, according to the Pentagon.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
