PH prepping for US, China, Japan, Russia possibly attending ASEAN meet

The Philippines, as incoming Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026, is preparing not only for the attendance of presidents, prime ministers, and heads of state from the 11 ASEAN member-countries, but also for the possible participation of leaders from the United States, Russia, Japan, and China at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and ASEAN-Plus meetings.

While there is still no formal confirmation on whether US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, or newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will personally attend the traditional ASEAN-Plus engagements, Philippine officials said preparations will cover all scenarios in line with the country’s role as summit host.

According to ASEAN spokesperson Dax Imperial of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the world leaders who typically join the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and related meetings come from key dialogue partner countries.

“We’re talking about Japan, Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, the US, India, but as to confirmation on who exactly, I think it’s too early to say,” he said at a briefing of the national organizing council at the PICC on Thursday.

The Philippines will serve as ASEAN Chair in 2026 under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”

SCS Code of Conduct

Beyond economic and security issues affecting Southeast Asia, one of the most closely watched agenda items for ASEAN 2026 is whether negotiations on the long-discussed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea will move forward or reach a breakthrough.

The COC, a proposed agreement among claimant-states in the disputed waters has been under negotiation for decades. It involves countries with overlapping maritime claims, including the Philippines, whose rights in the West Philippine Sea were upheld in the 2016 arbitral ruling; China, which continues to assert sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea; and other ASEAN states such as Vietnam.

Imperial confirmed that working-level COC negotiations among ASEAN countries are expected to take place in Cebu, although detailed arrangements have yet to be released.

As summit host, the Philippines is also hoping to leverage ASEAN 2026 to promote tourism, generate economic activity, and create local employment opportunities across host cities.

ASEAN National Organizing Council Director General Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega said that major ASEAN-related activities can translate into benefits for local communities.

“In different aspects, like for instance, if we consider this meeting in January, the ASEAN tourism forum, meron yang mga [there are] benefits for the locals there,” she said.

Myanmar had originally been in line to chair ASEAN for 2026, but after the military-led government relinquished the role, the Philippines took over the hosting slot from Malaysia’s rotation.

Under ASEAN’s current arrangement, Myanmar remains a member of the regional bloc and will continue to send representatives to meetings , but top-level military officials will not be allowed to participate in high-level engagements.

“Myanmar will be represented they will attend the meetings, but the same representation,” Imperial said.

There is likewise still no confirmation on whether North Korea will send representatives to any ASEAN-Plus dialogues linked to the 2026 hosting. — BM, GMA Integrated News