Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said China’s participation in the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) was subject to established rules and limitations, following Beijing’s criticism of the Philippines’ actions during the meeting.

Teodoro stressed that while the Philippines wanted to accommodate China’s participation, the ASEAN member states remained responsible for determining how dialogue partners would be heard during regional discussions.

“No country has the right to characterize ASEAN processes except ASEAN member countries. They are dialogue partners. So as much as we would want to accommodate them, it is subject to rules and limitations,” Teodoro said.

He added that China was given an opportunity to express its position on regional and maritime security, emphasizing that the exchange of views remained open and substantive.