China's defence ministry said on October 27 that the defence attaché at its embassy in the Philippines will represent Beijing at the 13th ADMM-Plus in Cebu on October 29, a step down from ministerial representation at the last two meetings.
China will send its defence attaché in the Philippines, rather than its defence minister, to the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu on October 29, the Chinese defence ministry said on Tuesday. The attaché, based at the Chinese embassy in Manila, will represent Beijing at the 13th edition of the forum.
The ministry said China would exchange views with other participants on upholding dialogue and enhancing mutual understanding and trust, and would restate its firm support for ASEAN centrality in regional cooperation. It gave no reason for the minister's absence.
The decision marks a clear change from recent practice. China sent Defence Minister Dong Jun to the 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, and his predecessor Li Shangfu attended the 2024 meeting in Vientiane. In 2023, a deputy chief of staff from the Central Military Commission attended at major-general rank.
Analysts quoted in regional coverage read the lower-level representation as a signal linked to the continuing maritime dispute between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea, including confrontations around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. The ministry itself did not link the decision to any dispute.
Other governments are sending ministers to Cebu. Singapore's Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing is due in Cebu from October 27 to 30 for the 20th ADMM and the 13th ADMM-Plus, and India and Japan are also expected at ministerial level. The United States is sending Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The ADMM-Plus brings together the 11 ASEAN member states and eight partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States. This year's sessions run from October 26 to 30, with the main ADMM-Plus session on October 29, when the Philippines hands the chair to Singapore.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Neutral
- Analysts read the downgrade as a signal over South China Sea disputes
- Philippine defence officials had earlier said they had no confirmation of China's attendees
- Singapore, India and Japan are sending defence ministers to Cebu