The Philippines took over the ASEAN Chairmanship on 1 January 2026 with the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” steering ASEAN’s priorities through three pillars: Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors, and People Empowerment. It will be hosting over 650 ASEAN meetings, including two summits and 24 ministerial meetings.
A key area of its peace and security agenda will be maritime security and the South China Sea (SCS). The Philippines aims to finalise a legally binding SCS Code of Conduct (COC) after eight years of negotiations and a broader ASEAN–China process spanning two decades. For the Prosperity Corridors, the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is positioned as a ‘game changer’ on digital economy pact and linked to a US$2 trillion unified digital market ambition. It will be supported by strengthening supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals, and new support for MSMEs and creative industries. The People Empowerment pillar will focus on inclusive development by prioritising families, youth and vulnerable groups, and promoting AI governance and integration in support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
The Philippines faces a balancing act amid domestic and regional headwinds, including a corruption scandal at home, intra-ASEAN conflicts and tense major power relations. Nonetheless, the Chair’s priorities resonate with longstanding ASEM’s goals of trusted partnership and multilateral problem-solving. The Philippines can draw on cooperation with like-minded partners, including Europe, to advance ASEAN’s agenda and tackle common challenges, such as digital trust, green resilience and shared security. The Chair’s priorities connect with EU–ASEAN cooperation through the EU–ASEAN Strategic Partnership (2023–2027), with emphasis on youth digital literacy and ethical AI, informed by a human-centric approach associated with the EU AI Act. They also align with the EU Global Gateway through potential pilot projects on clean logistics and sustainable value chains. This engagement comes at a moment when ASEAN’s digital market is projected to reach US$2 trillion by 2030, underpinned by a demographic advantage the EU cannot replicate: a median age of 31.2 years and a mobile-first population nearing 705 million.
Sources:
European Commission, ‘Global Gateway’, European Commission
Simon Hutagalung, 21 January 2026, ‘Philippines’ crucial Asean test’ Bangkok Post
China Power Team, 25 January 2021, ‘How Much Trade Transits the South China Sea?’ China Power
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