PHL bares 2026 ASEAN agenda

THE PHILIPPINES will be pushing for peace and security, maritime cooperation, and climate change issues as the country heads the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“We have three basic cross cutting issues that will be the priorities for the 2026 chairmanship. It will be peace and security, maritime cooperation, and climate change,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro told a news briefing.

Ms. Lazaro added that the Philippines is still in the process of discussing other details for its hosting of the summit next year.

“We are still in the process of discussions because Malaysia has not finished its chairmanship. We are of the view that we should build on what Malaysia has done and build building blocks to strengthen ASEAN cooperation,” she said.

Manila is set to take over the regional bloc’s chairmanship in 2026, a year earlier than expected after Myanmar skipped its turn.

During the summit, the regional bloc is expected to come up with the draft of a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, as Beijing continues to assert its dominance in the region.

Ms. Lazaro said that the Philippines will continue to enforce the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, which invalidate Beijing’s expansive claim in the area for being illegal. — Adrian H. Halili