Asean chair tests Marcos' balancing act on regional issues

Analysts say Philippines must maintain consensus-driven culture of grouping

- Mara Cepeda

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Nov 14 launched the Philippines' yearlong chairmanship of Asean in 2026, setting the tone for how Manila intends to steer the regional grouping amid rising geopolitical tensions and questions over its relevance.

The Philippines is taking the helm at a time when Asean faces deepening divisions over the South China Sea, stalled reform efforts in Myanmar and growing scrutiny over the ability of the Il-nation association to manage great-power rivalry.

Mr Marcos said Manila will prioritise economic cooperation and regional stability during its chairmanship, while also seeking progress on long-running maritime issues.

"We shall continue to champion peace and stability through dialogue, adherence to international law and enhanced cooperation on traditional and nontraditional security issues," he said in a speech in Manila. "We believe that through cooperation and understanding, Asean can further strengthen its role as a force for peace and progress in the global community."

He then announced the appointment of Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro as the Philippines' special envoy of the chair on Myanmar, expressing confidence that the longtime Filipino diplomat will bring a "constructive, principled and inclusive approach to supporting the people of Myanmar".

Mr Marcos also said that the Philippines will champion the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address security challenges in the region, including harnessing the technology for early warning systems, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Though he did not explicitly mention it in his speech, he told reporters in October he hopes that negotiations on the code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea would be concluded in 2026, while the Philippines is the Asean chair.