In 2025, at the 15th Anniversary ADMM-Plus Summit in KL, China joined in the joint statement which, among other things, committed to: 🔹PRIORITISE inclusivity and multilateral engagement by maintaining an open and inclusive ADMM-Plus 🔹INCREASE capacity-building initiatives 🔹STRENGTHEN the ADMM-Plus framework and deepen defence cooperation as a means for confidence and capacity-building; 🔹REAFFIRM the importance of mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of our nations, maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, prosperity, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); 🔹CONTINUE exchanges, interactions and confidence-building measures to address current and emerging security challenges; ➡️This year, China did not join in the 2026 ADMM-Plus EWG Maritime Security Sea Phase, hosted by 🇵🇭 Will this divergence between words and actions be noted by all the ASEAN member states? ➡️ Next year, 🇨🇳 will host the 2nd ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise. Will is be used to challenge or support the principles expressed by ASEAN, ADMM and ADMM-Plus? -- @BDHerzinger @CollinSLKoh @graham_euan @TangAnZhu @ChongJaIan @MarSec_Bradford @JeffreyOrdaniel