ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in a forum organized by the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Tuesday, said that China was trying to divide the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“What is China trying to do? Trying to divide us. And that, fortunately, will not happen, because I am very sure that our leaders realize that in this region, China is the biggest destroyer of international peace in the ASEAN region,” said Minister Gilberto Teodoro, as quoted by the Inquirer newspaper.
Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines will continue to strengthen military ties with Vietnam after the two countries’ coastal patrols conducted the first joint naval exercise in the South China Sea, which is disputed by a number of countries.
He also asked member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations not to let China define the meaning of “ASEAN centrality”.
“We must unite in ASEAN and protect each other’s sovereign rights and powers while placing our internal disputes in the context of the scope of ASEAN,” he added.
China and the Philippines each claim a number of islands in the South China Sea. The situation in the region is often complicated by passing US warships, which according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry violates international law and also undermines China’s sovereignty and security. (Sputnik-OANA)
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