Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro has issued a stark warning to Southeast Asian nations, urging them to steadfastly maintain restraint and adhere to international law as acts of aggression across Asia and "unilateral actions" elsewhere in the world threaten the rules-based global order.
Geopolitical Alarm Raised in Cebu Meetings
Speaking before her counterparts in the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations during their first major closed-door meetings this year in the Philippines' central seaside city of Cebu, Lazaro did not provide specific details of the geopolitical concerns she raised. However, her remarks come at a time of significant regional tension.
Several ASEAN members have expressed deep concern over recent international developments, including the secretive U.S. strike that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on orders from U.S. President Donald Trump. Additionally, China's intensifying aggressive stance on Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea has troubled the region for years.
Diplomatic Tightrope Between Major Powers
Calling out both the United States and China presents a particular dilemma for ASEAN countries, as these nations are among the largest trading and defense partners for the regional bloc. This diplomatic tightrope requires careful navigation to maintain relationships while addressing concerning actions.
"Across our region, we continue to see tensions at sea, protracted internal conflicts and unresolved border and humanitarian concerns," Lazaro stated in her opening speech before ASEAN counterparts.
She further elaborated that "developments beyond Southeast Asia, including unilateral actions that carry cross-regional implications, continue to affect regional stability and erode multilateral institutions and the rules-based international order."
ASEAN's Time-Honored Principles Emphasised
Lazaro emphasised that these challenging realities underscore the interim importance of ASEAN's foundational principles. "These realities underscore the interim importance of ASEAN's time-honored principles of restraint, dialogue and adherence to international law in seeking to preserve peace and stability to our peoples," she declared.
The Philippines currently holds ASEAN's rotating chair this year, taking what would have been Myanmar's turn after the country was suspended from chairing meetings following its army's forcible ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government in 2021.
Regional Bloc's Complex Composition
Founded in 1967 during the Cold War era, ASEAN comprises an unwieldy membership of diverse countries ranging from vibrant democracies like the Philippines—a longtime treaty ally of Washington—to authoritarian states like Laos and Cambodia, which maintain close ties with Beijing.
This year, the regional bloc adopted the theme "Navigating our future, Together," but efforts to project unity faced significant setbacks last year when deadly fighting erupted between two member states, Thailand and Cambodia, over a longstanding border conflict.
Key Agenda Items for ASEAN Ministers
Beyond discussing the Thailand-Cambodia conflict that embroiled both nations before they forged a U.S.-backed ceasefire last year, ASEAN foreign ministers will deliberate how to advance a five-point peace plan for the war in Myanmar. This plan, issued by the regional bloc's leaders in 2021, demanded an immediate end to fighting and hostilities but has thus far failed to end the violence or foster meaningful dialogue among contending parties.
Additionally, ASEAN foreign ministers face pressure to conclude negotiations with China ahead of a self-imposed deadline this year regarding a so-called "code of conduct" to manage disputes over long-unresolved territorial rifts in the South China Sea. China maintains expansive claims in this crucial global trade route that overlap with those of four ASEAN members: the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei.
The meetings in Cebu represent a critical juncture for ASEAN as it navigates complex geopolitical challenges while attempting to maintain regional stability and uphold international legal frameworks.
