{"id":21890,"date":"2026-10-29T06:57:47","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T22:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/?p=21890"},"modified":"2026-10-29T06:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T22:57:47","slug":"ph-defense-chief-highlights-unity-sovereignty-open-dialogue-at-asean-defence-ministers-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/2026\/10\/29\/ph-defense-chief-highlights-unity-sovereignty-open-dialogue-at-asean-defence-ministers-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"PH DEFENSE CHIEF HIGHLIGHTS UNITY, SOVEREIGNTY, OPEN DIALOGUE AT ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS\u2019 MEETING"},"content":{"rendered":"

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday highlighted three key messages as he chairs the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers\u2019 Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers\u2019 Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his opening remarks for the 20th ADMM, Teodoro noted the present challenges confronting the region, requiring ASEAN unity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAgainst this backdrop, and in line with the Philippines\u2019 theme of \u2018Navigating our Future, Together,\u2019 we humbly offer in our capacity as chair of the ADMM three key messages to guide our discussions going forward,\u201d said Teodoro.<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, Teodoro said ASEAN\u2019s internal stability and intra unity are vital in upholding unity and cooperation in the midst of a fragmenting world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The bloc, he pointed out, must adhere to ASEAN Centrality and the principles that bind it, such as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes, and the renunciation of the threat or use of force.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He noted that ASEAN was founded on the belief that its strength lies in its diversity, stressing that each member state\u2019s differences should not cause internal division.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where such differences exist, including in the South China Sea, we shall settle them through peaceful and legal means,\u201d the Philippine defense chief noted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Teodoro also highlighted the importance of functional cooperation to enhance trust, as he underscored the essence of maintaining trust and confidence among ASEAN\u2019s defense establishments and producing purposive outcomes for the people through the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ASEAN, he said, has made significant strides in maritime security, protection of critical underwater infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He also stressed the need to expand cooperation to secure food and energy security amid supply chain challenges from conflicts beyond its shores.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative gains in importance as Southeast Asia braces for a super El Ni\u00f1o, which will likewise affect food, water, electricity, and connectivity in our respective countries,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lastly, Teodoro pointed to the importance of frank and open exchanges as defense and military officials gather for this week\u2019s defence ministers\u2019 meeting, underscoring the threats that exist in the region that affect the safety of citizens, as well as regional stability.
\nIn the spirit of candor and ASEAN solidarity, he said each country\u2019s public pronouncements are guided by its respective national policies and diplomatic considerations, but there must be trust and confidence during the meetings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we hope we can speak amongst us in an atmosphere of trust, confidence, and candor, especially in our bilateral meetings and other engagements on the sideline,\u201d he said. \u201cIn this manner, we can promote mutual understanding, find common ground, and better address the challenges that we face as individual nations and as a collective whole.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Teodoro earlier led the welcome rites for the ASEAN defense ministers as the Philippines, through the Department of National Defense (DND), hosts the 20th ADMM and the 13th ADMM-Plus on October 28-29, 2026, in Lapu-Lapu City, as part of the Philippines\u2019 2026 ASEAN Chairship.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday highlighted three key messages as he chairs the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 13th ASEAN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa.jpg",1517,777,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-300x154.jpg",300,154,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-768x393.jpg",640,328,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-1024x524.jpg",640,328,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa.jpg",1517,777,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa.jpg",1517,777,false],"kreeti-slider-full":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-1280x720.jpg",1280,720,true],"kreeti-featured":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-1024x524.jpg",1024,524,true],"kreeti-medium":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-720x530.jpg",720,530,true],"kreeti-medium-square":["https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/gibo-pa-350x350.jpg",350,350,true]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"National<\/a>","tag_info":"National","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21890"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21890"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21892,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21890\/revisions\/21892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.journaldailynewsonline.com.ph\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}