The Philippines is set to enhance the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) influence on regional and global issues when it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced this during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, emphasizing the country’s intent to address critical regional challenges such as the Myanmar crisis and disputes in the South China Sea.
Manalo highlighted that the Philippines will prioritize economic integration within ASEAN while also strengthening the bloc’s role in global affairs. He stressed the importance of ‘ASEAN centrality,’ a concept aimed at positioning ASEAN at the heart of regional dynamics. The focus will be on playing a more significant role in regional issues, including the ongoing situation in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea.
During ASEAN meetings next year, discussions are expected to center on the Myanmar crisis, the progress of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and Timor-Leste’s potential membership in ASEAN. Recent ASEAN foreign ministers’ retreat in Malaysia expressed deep concern over the escalating conflicts and humanitarian issues in Myanmar, noting minimal progress on the Five-Point Consensus.
Regarding the South China Sea, ASEAN diplomats urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions. Manalo pointed out that the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have frequently harassed Filipino ships, remains a primary security challenge for the Philippines. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is addressing these issues peacefully and diplomatically, in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives and international law.
The DFA’s efforts also include promoting Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, adhering to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In preparation for the ASEAN meetings, the Philippines is closely coordinating with the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia.
President Marcos accepted the ASEAN’s request to chair the organization in 2026, a year earlier than planned, following Myanmar’s withdrawal from the chairmanship. The Philippines previously hosted ASEAN meetings in 2017.