ASEAN Ministers Meet in Cebu on Myanmar, Sea Disputes

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered in Cebu, Philippines, this week for their first major meeting of 2026 under the bloc's Philippine chairmanship, addressing persistent regional challenges including Myanmar's political crisis, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and a fragile border truce between Thailand and Cambodia.

The two-day retreat, held January 28 and 29, focused on advancing ASEAN's agenda amid escalating tensions across the region. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, who chaired the discussions, emphasized the need for restraint and adherence to international law. "Across our region, we continue to see tensions at sea, protracted internal conflicts and unresolved border and humanitarian concerns," Lazaro said in her opening remarks. She added that developments beyond Southeast Asia, including unilateral actions, threaten regional stability and the rules-based global order.

Myanmar's ongoing civil war dominated the agenda. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the 2021 Five-Point Consensus, a peace framework aimed at ending violence, facilitating dialogue, and providing humanitarian aid...