MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday rejected China’s accusation that the Philippines abused its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) defense meetings to obstruct Beijing’s participation, saying the allegation did not reflect the regional bloc’s position. Teodoro responded to Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, who accused Manila of violating Asean’s consensus-based principles and undermining China’s rights as a dialogue partner. “Insofar as Asean is concerned, I do not believe our Asean member countries feel that way, if not they would have let me know,” Teodoro said at a press conference in Lapu-Lapu City, […]...

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