ASEAN defense ministers are meeting in Cebu this week. Guess who flew to "widen the burden sharing"? Pete Hesseth. The Pentagon's own advisory says it is coming to "strengthen deterrence" and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 13th ADMM-Plus in Lapu-Lapu City, October 26 to 30. Teodoro says putting southern China will "naturally" be on the table. China received its invitation notice a day before he said that, and he admitted he didn't know if Beijing would come. > ASEAN hosts the meeting.

ASEAN defense ministers are meeting in Cebu this week. Guess who flew to "widen the burden sharing"? Pete Hesseth. The Pentagon's own advisory says it is coming to "strengthen deterrence" and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 13th ADMM-Plus in Lapu-Lapu City, October 26 to 30. Teodoro says putting southern China will "naturally" be on the table. China received its invitation notice a day before he said that, and he admitted he didn't know if Beijing would come. > ASEAN hosts the meeting.

> Manila sits on it.

> Washington sets the tone Burden sharing is a polite word. That means the Philippines bears the risk, the Americans keep the wheel. ASEAN was built to keep great powers out of its quarrels. Do not host their war planning.