# ASEAN
Latest news and articles about ASEAN
Total: 17 articles found
Manila’s UN Ambitions Thwarted: Why the Philippines Lost Its Security Council Bid to Kyrgyzstan
The Philippines failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, losing to Kyrgyzstan after four rounds of voting. The loss highlights a potential misalignment between the Marcos administration’s pro-Western foreign policy and the diplomatic preferences of the broader UN General Assembly.
Kitchen Diplomacy: The Symbolic Significance of Manila’s Media Avoidance in Singapore
Philippine defense leaders' decision to bypass Chinese media at the Shangri-La Dialogue has sparked criticism from Beijing, which views the move as a tactical retreat to maintain a 'victim narrative' in the South China Sea dispute. Chinese analysts suggest this avoidance signals Manila's intent to use upcoming diplomatic milestones, including its ASEAN chairmanship, to further isolate China internationally.
Asia’s Middle Path: ASEAN Resists Bloc Politics at the Shangri-La Dialogue
The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue highlighted a growing divide between US-led security alignments and a Southeast Asian preference for multilateral cooperation. While Japan and the Philippines pursue deeper defense ties, leaders from Vietnam and Timor-Leste called for a rejection of bloc politics in favor of dialogue and economic stability.
Diplomatic Friction in the Lion City: Sino-Philippine Spat Shadows Security Summit
The Shangri-La Dialogue witnessed a sharp verbal confrontation between Chinese officials and the Philippine Defense Secretary, highlighting the collapse of strategic trust. While Beijing portrayed Manila's stance as incoherent, the exchange underscores a deepening divide over maritime sovereignty and U.S. regional influence.
Diplomacy in Cebu: Thailand and Cambodia Pivot Toward Border Stability
Thai Prime Minister Anutin and Cambodian PM Hun Manet met in the Philippines to discuss easing border tensions. The two leaders committed to a path of dialogue and tasked their foreign ministers with creating confidence-building measures to ensure long-term peace.
China’s Trade Resilience: A Strategic Pivot Amid Waning US Reliance
China's foreign trade grew by 14.9% in early 2026, driven by strong ties with ASEAN and Belt and Road nations while trade with the US fell significantly. The data shows a shift toward high-tech exports and a growing reliance on the private sector to drive economic momentum.
The Cebu Connection: Thailand, Philippines, and Cambodia Chart a Middle Path in a Fractured ASEAN
Leaders from Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia met in Cebu for a landmark trilateral summit aimed at strengthening regional cooperation outside of traditional ASEAN channels. The meeting reflects a growing trend toward 'minilateralism' as Southeast Asian nations seek to navigate US-China tensions and regional instability with greater flexibility.
Superman’s Strategic Pivot: Why Li Ka-shing is Cashing Out of the West
Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison group has liquidated over HK$350 billion in Western assets since 2020, citing regulatory shifts and economic stagnation. This capital is being aggressively reinvested into Southeast Asian technology and Hong Kong infrastructure, marking a historic pivot from Western utilities to Eastern growth.
Chauffeurs and Security Pacts: Wang Yi’s Southeast Asian Circuit Reasserts Beijing’s Sphere of Influence
Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s tour of Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar underscores a strategic shift toward deeper security and industrial integration in Southeast Asia. Through EV diplomacy in Thailand and '2+2' defense talks in Cambodia, Beijing is consolidating a regional bloc that challenges Western influence and prioritizes Chinese 'core interests.'
Diplomacy Over Discord: China Pivots to Institutional Governance in the South China Sea
At the 2026 Boao Forum for Asia, China and ASEAN representatives emphasized a shift toward institutional governance and scientific cooperation in the South China Sea. The discussions highlighted progress on the Code of Conduct and the use of economic ties to maintain regional stability amidst global uncertainty.
China’s Trade Posts Strong Start to 2026 as Exports and Imports Surge — But Trade with the US Slumps
China reported an 18.3% year-on-year rise in goods trade for January–February 2026, driven by a near-20% bounce in exports and strong import growth. Private firms, diversified markets such as ASEAN and the EU, and buoyant bonded logistics activity underpinned the recovery, while trade with the United States contracted sharply.
PLA’s Five‑Day South China Sea Patrol Raises Stakes as Manila Shifts Tactics and Tokyo Deepens Involvement
China’s PLA carried out a five‑day patrol in the South China Sea in early February, a move framed as a response to Philippine actions around Scarborough Shoal and joint exercises with the United States. Manila has signalled a tactical pivot toward pushing a South China Sea code of conduct during its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, even as Japan deepens support for the Philippines, widening the dispute’s international dimensions.