MANILA (Reuters) – A security grouping similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Southeast Asia is not currently possible, given the divergent interests and alliances in the region, the Philippines’ Defense Secretary said on Tuesday.

Asked about the possibility of a NATO equivalent in Southeast Asia, Gilberto Teodoro told a security forum that ASEAN’s complex “dualities and differences in country interests” would make it difficult to establish a unified military alliance. “ASEAN’s defense alliance with the US We continue to build alliances with like-minded countries,” he said.

“Other ASEAN countries have formed alliances with China.”

These remarks came after Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, floated the idea of ​​establishing an “Asian NATO” before taking office, which received no traction and was rejected by the United States and India.

Later, when asked whether he had China in mind, Japan’s foreign minister said such an idea was not intended to oppose any particular country. Teodoro said he would prefer ASEAN to acknowledge that China has “taken excessive steps” in the South China Sea. There have been recent conflicts over territorial claims with the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

China and US ally the Philippines are at odds over a series of clashes near disputed areas in the South China Sea. Manila accused the Chinese coast guard of aggression and Beijing said it was responding to what it called repeated provocations and territorial incursions.

“Getting some principles or some responses regarding China’s far-reaching activities and undoubtedly illegal activities in the South China Sea is a very good first step, and that’s what we need to work on,” Teodoro said. he said.

The Philippines has called on Southeast Asian leaders and China to urgently expedite negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea to manage differences and reduce tensions.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague sided with the Philippines, which had filed the case, ruling that Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis. Beijing rejected the decision.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty and John Mair)