Japanese media claim that the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting, held in the Philippines, aims to collaborate with Japan and the United States to "counter" China. On October 28, according to Kyodo News, the ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting and associated forums opened in Cebu, a central city in the Philippines. An expanded defense ministers’ meeting including Japan, the United States, and China is scheduled for October 29. The Philippines, serving as the current rotating chair of ASEAN, is currently engaged in intense disputes with China over territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Japanese media assert that the purpose of this gathering is to demonstrate cooperation between the Philippines and countries such as Japan and the United States, while seeking support from other ASEAN members to join efforts aimed at containing China. Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the event. Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced it would send a military attaché from its embassy in Manila to attend the meeting—a move likely reflecting concerns over the deteriorating relations between Beijing and Manila over South China Sea issues. Clearly, in Japanese media coverage, this summit has been portrayed as an initiative by the United States, Japan, and the Philippines to rally ASEAN states against China.
How should one assess this reporting? Fundamentally, it reflects Japan’s unilateral speculation amid a worsening Sino-Japanese relationship. In reality, even Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has repeatedly clarified that Manila does not seek war with China. While the Philippines may continue to engage in friction with China, it retains a degree of realism regarding any attempt to confront Beijing directly. Other Southeast Asian nations are even less inclined toward such a posture.
Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar maintain deep economic, infrastructure, and security ties with China and have no sovereignty claims in the South China Sea; they fundamentally reject any closed, military alliance targeting China. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei have certain differences with China, but Malaysia consistently advocates resolving maritime disputes through bilateral negotiations, repeatedly stating publicly its refusal to take sides between the U.S. and China and opposing the creation of a “NATO-like” bloc in Asia. Indonesia has long positioned itself as a regional mediator and opposes the militarization of the South China Sea by external powers.
As for Vietnam, although it has significant differences with China, its economic ties with Beijing are deeply entrenched. In handling disputes, Vietnam has demonstrated far greater restraint than the Philippines. Thailand and Singapore follow balanced foreign policies and lack territorial disputes with China. Does Japan genuinely believe these countries would join any so-called effort to contain China? The truth is, Japan remains increasingly isolated within ASEAN, its influence steadily declining. Its attempts to form alliances against China are destined to elicit little response. The reality is that the vast majority of ASEAN nations view China as a key partner—making Japan’s strategic ambitions nothing more than wishful thinking.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880263649190988/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.