On Tuesday (October 28), Malaysia officially handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to the Philippines, marking the start of a brand new chapter for the Southeast Asian bloc heading into 2026.
The handover ceremony was held at the top of the forty seventh ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, during which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim symbolically handed over the leadership gavel to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
While Malaysia’s term as ASEAN chair will officially end at the top of 2025, the transition signals that Manila is preparing to tackle major responsibilities in resolving two of probably the most pressing issues within the region: escalating tensions within the South China Sea and the protracted crisis in Myanmar.
South China Sea: top priority under latest leadership
The Philippines will lead ASEAN with its inevitable agenda: territorial disputes within the South China Sea. Along with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, the Philippines is one in every of 4 ASEAN member states with overlapping claims within the strategically vital waters connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
These claims often clash with China’s expansive assertions of sovereignty, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that found Beijing’s claims had no legal basis.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have risen sharply lately, with maritime incidents occurring almost routinely.
A Southeast Asian diplomat on the Kuala Lumpur summit noted: “The South China Sea only becomes an area of concern when incidents on the bottom escalate… and so they are escalating.”
ASEAN and China have been negotiating for greater than 20 years on a code of conduct (CoC) for disputed waters. It is hoped that a document regulating interactions within the disputed maritime region can be finalized in the approaching 12 months.
Diplomacy and the Philippines’ approach to China
In his speech on the Kuala Lumpur Summit, Marcos stressed the importance of engaging in regional cooperation.
“If we commit to cooperation and meaningful engagement, we can achieve positive results, especially in the South China Sea,” he said.
Marcos also stressed that cooperation between ASEAN and China should be based on mutual respect and international law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion,” he said.
The Philippine president also proposed more practical diplomatic measures, including mechanisms to secure fishermen’s access to traditional fishing grounds and restrict activities near uninhabited areas to avoid clashes at sea.
The Burma Challenge: A Test of ASEAN Diplomacy
Across the South China Sea, the Philippines faces one other major challenge in the shape of the continuing crisis in Myanmar, which has shown no signs of easing since a military coup in 2021. The country is currently embroiled in a civil war, with general elections scheduled for December 28.
However, in response to ASEAN diplomatic sources, the organization is not going to send observers to Burma, which is a defeat for the junta looking for international legitimacy. Nevertheless, some Member States may determine to send their very own observers independently.
As ASEAN chair, the Philippines will face the vital task of developing a unified position towards Myanmar’s military regime. This includes deciding whether to re-invite their leaders to high-level meetings from which they’ve previously been excluded. Manila can even negotiate the appointment of an ASEAN everlasting envoy to Myanmar.
Malaysia’s legacy and changing leadership
Under the theme of “Inclusion and Sustainable Development”, Malaysia has organized over 300 ASEAN meetings throughout its chairmanship, underscoring its commitment to regional unity and resilience.
Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership was marked by two vital achievements: the admission of East Timor because the eleventh member of ASEAN and the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. Additionally, Malaysia hosted the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit in addition to the second ASEAN-GCC Summit, strengthening inter-regional economic and investment ties.
Anwar described his tenure as a journey of “constructing latest bridges and proving that ASEAN’s mission stays relevant when pursued with patience and customary sense.”
In his poetic closing remarks, he quoted Shakespeare: “In today’s world, where constancy is a rare virtue, Shakespeare warns us against being slaves to passions and drives and that we must always use common sense to stay steadfast amidst the ups and downs of the moment.”
He ended his term by expressing gratitude to the people of Malaysia for his or her support and hospitality, which he said were essential to the success of his 12 months of chairmanship.
The Philippines looks to 2026 with optimism
Although the Philippines is not going to officially take over the chairmanship until January 1, 2026, Marcos has already outlined a brand new direction for ASEAN under the slogan “Navigating Our Future Together.” All major summit events this 12 months can be held on the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.
In a lighthearted moment, Marcos remarked, “I suppose which means I’m still on probation,” after ASEAN staffers briefly took back the gavel after a photograph shoot. However, behind the humor lies the burden of future responsibilities.
As the brand new chairwoman, the Philippines pledged to strengthen “the anchors of peace and security, construct corridors of prosperity and empower communities.” Marcos also reaffirmed his commitment to ASEAN’s centrality, the principle that ASEAN must remain at the middle of regional dialogue and conflict resolution, free from domination by external forces.
The Philippines last chaired ASEAN in 2017. This time, in a more complex and difficult geopolitical landscape, Manila is predicted to guide the region on a brand new trajectory.
