The West Philippine Sea and South China Sea are expected to be among the key topics at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), along with maritime security and cybersecurity, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Tuesday.
DND Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said discussions on the disputed waters have been a regular feature of previous ADMM meetings and are expected to continue this year.
“Secretary Teodoro has mentioned in his previous engagement that the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea are almost always a part of the discussions in the ADMM, so we don't think it'll be any different at this time,” Andolong said.
However, he said it was too early to determine the direction and outcomes of the discussions, as working groups were still finalizing the agenda ahead of the meetings.
Other expected topics include practical defense cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, counterterrorism, peacekeeping operations, military medicine and humanitarian mine action.
The Philippines is hosting the 20th ADMM and the 13th ADMM-Plus in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Oct. 28-29, under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together.”
The ADMM serves as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism.
The ADMM-Plus, established in 2010, expands defense cooperation to eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will chair the meetings, which are expected to produce joint statements subject to finalization and consensus among participating parties.
The gathering also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, signed in 1976, which promotes respect for sovereignty, noninterference and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Two ASEAN Plus One Defense Ministers Informal Meetings, involving Japan and the United States, will also take place, alongside bilateral and other engagements on the sidelines.
The Philippines is scheduled to hand over the ADMM and ADMM-Plus chairmanship to Singapore on Thursday.
Through its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, the Philippines aims to strengthen regional partnerships, sustain dialogue and advance practical defense cooperation to support a peaceful, secure and stable Indo-Pacific region.
