China downgrades envoy to South-east Asian meeting after sea row

BEIJING – China is downgrading its participation at a key South-east Asian defence meeting in the Philippines this week, following a deepening territorial dispute with the host nation. Beijing will be represented by the defence attache of the Chinese embassy to the Philippines at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu on Oct 29, according to an announcement by the People’s Liberation Army on Oct 27. That marks a significant downgrade from 2025, when China dispatched its Defence Minister Dong Jun to the event in Kuala Lumpur. Relations are rapidly deteriorating between the Philippines and China, with both countries regularly…