ASEAN at the Helm: Key Takeaways from FPT’s Discussion on the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship
On 12 November 2026, Foreign Policy Talks (FPT), in collaboration with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, successfully convened the first session of its ASEAN at the Helm discussion series in Manila, Philippines. The event featured Richard Javad Heydarian, Member of the Advisory Board at We Protect the Seas (WPS) Foundation, and Josephine Romero, Senior Adviser for Digital, AI, and Semiconductors to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines.
Moderated by Noto Suoneto, Founder of Foreign Policy Talks, the discussion examined the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” As the Philippines approaches the conclusion of its Chairship, the conversation explored ASEAN's capacity to maintain regional stability, deepen economic integration, and ensure that regional cooperation delivers meaningful benefits for its people amid an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment.
One of the central themes throughout the discussion was the challenge of maintaining ASEAN unity amid intensifying major-power competition. The strategic rivalry between the United States and China has increasingly shaped the Indo-Pacific security landscape, placing Southeast Asian countries in a difficult position as they seek to preserve their economic and diplomatic relationships with both powers. For the Philippines, this challenge is particularly pronounced given its maritime disputes with China and its growing security cooperation with the United States and other regional partners. The broader question for ASEAN is how to uphold its centrality and strategic autonomy without allowing external competition to deepen divisions within the organisation.
The South China Sea remains a significant test of ASEAN's ability to translate diplomatic commitments into practical outcomes. Differences among member states, competing maritime claims, and varying relationships with major powers continue to complicate efforts to establish a common regional position. While negotiations towards a Code of Conduct remain an important part of ASEAN's diplomatic agenda, progress ultimately depends on sustained political commitment, mutual trust, and respect for international law. The Philippines' Chairship therefore highlights the importance of strengthening maritime cooperation, maintaining dialogue, and developing confidence-building measures to prevent regional tensions from escalating into broader confrontations.
Beyond traditional security concerns, the discussion also highlighted the growing importance of economic resilience and regional integration. Global uncertainty, shifting supply chains, and intensifying economic competition have reinforced the need for ASEAN to strengthen its internal connectivity and reduce vulnerabilities to external disruptions. Rather than viewing economic integration solely through the expansion of trade, ASEAN must also consider how regional cooperation can support investment, improve supply chain resilience, and create a more competitive environment for businesses operating across Southeast Asia.
Digital transformation represents another important dimension of this agenda. The conclusion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) in May 2026 marks a significant step towards establishing a more integrated regional digital economy. Covering areas such as digital trade, cross-border data flows, electronic payments, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, the agreement offers an opportunity to reduce regulatory fragmentation and facilitate business activities across national borders. However, the success of DEFA will depend not only on the establishment of common rules, but also on their effective implementation and the ability of businesses to make use of the opportunities they create.
The conversation further raised the importance of ensuring that ASEAN's economic and digital ambitions translate into inclusive growth. While digitalisation and artificial intelligence offer significant opportunities to improve productivity and create new business models, their benefits are not automatically distributed across the region. Differences in digital infrastructure, access to financing, technological capabilities, and workforce readiness continue to affect the ability of smaller businesses to participate in the digital economy. Strengthening public-private collaboration, expanding digital skills development, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will therefore be essential to ensuring that regional integration benefits businesses and communities beyond the region's largest economic centres.
Looking beyond the Philippine Chairship, the discussion underscored that ASEAN's future relevance will depend on its ability to move beyond declarations and translate regional commitments into tangible outcomes. Maintaining consensus remains important, but consensus must also be accompanied by effective implementation, stronger institutional coordination, and meaningful participation from the private sector and wider communities. As ASEAN navigates growing geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological change, its ability to remain cohesive, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of its people will be central to sustaining its regional role.
Foreign Policy Talks extends its sincere appreciation to Richard Javad Heydarian, Josephine Romero, Noto Suoneto, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, and all participants for contributing to an engaging and insightful discussion. The inaugural Manila session provided an opportunity to reflect on the Philippines' regional leadership while examining the broader challenges and opportunities shaping ASEAN's future. Through the ASEAN at the Helm series, FPT looks forward to continuing conversations on Southeast Asia's evolving political, economic, and strategic landscape.
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