Southeast Asian leaders have begun the 2026 ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, with regional security, economic resilience and geopolitical tensions among the main issues under discussion. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hosting the summit before handing ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship to Singapore.
The meeting comes as ASEAN seeks to balance relations between major powers while addressing regional challenges, including the South China Sea disputes, Myanmar’s conflict and the wider impact of global instability.
Key developments:
- US President Donald Trump is expected to join ASEAN-related meetings alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while China’s Premier Li Qiang represents Beijing.
- Leaders are expected to reaffirm support for international law, freedom of navigation and peaceful dispute resolution.
- ASEAN and China’s South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations remain a key issue, with no major breakthrough expected.
- The bloc continues efforts to address Myanmar’s crisis through its Five-Point Consensus.
ℹ️ AP News