China accuses Philippines of setting up ‘obstacles’ to attending Asean defence meeting

AI Summary

China accused the Philippines of placing obstacles in the way of its participation in an ASEAN defence ministers' meeting in Lapu-Lapu. The dispute comes amid longstanding tensions over competing South China Sea claims, and Beijing sent a relatively low-ranking representative.

China has accused the Philippines of setting up “numerous obstacles” to attending a meeting with defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and of violating “basic diplomatic protocols”. The row, which follows years of tension over the two countries’ competing claims to the South China Sea, saw Beijing sending its defence attache to the meeting in Lapu-Lapu in the Philippines – the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the event since it was first held in 2010. “The...