[The Philippines allows individual politicians to use public assets for private purposes and sets up numerous obstacles to prevent China from participating in the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus] October 29th: The Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference on the afternoon of October 29th. The spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, answered reporters’ questions. Reporter: This year, the Chinese Defense Minister did not attend the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus held in the Philippines. China sent a military attache to attend the meeting. What are the reasons for this? Zhang Xiaogang: The ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus is the highest-level and largest defense and security dialogue and cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its establishment in 2010, it has provided an important platform for countries to enhance mutual trust and cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability. As the rotating chair of the current ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, the Philippines has allowed individual politicians to act arbitrarily and use public weapons for private purposes, erecting numerous obstacles to hinder China's participation in the meeting, seriously undermining the principle of consensus in ASEAN, seriously violating the open and inclusive spirit of ASEAN Defense Ministers' Conference Plus, violating basic diplomatic etiquette, and undermining China's legitimate rights as a member of the mechanism. Most ASEAN countries have questioned and opposed it. Against this background, China still decided to send personnel to participate in the meeting, which reflects its firm support for ASEAN's central position and its responsible attitude towards regional defense and security cooperation. The Philippines insists on going its own way, kidnapping ASEAN and causing trouble. It will weaken the reputation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus and destroy the unity and mutual trust among ASEAN countries. It will ultimately harm the fundamental interests of the Philippines and regional countries and people.