EXPLAINER: What is ASEAN?

The Philippines is hosting the 48th Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Summit, marking its fifth time to chair the regional bloc.

Leaders from 11 member-nations will converge in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu for the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits this week.

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as its founding members.

The five foreign ministers who signed it – known as the “Founding Fathers” of the regional bloc – were Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand.

The organization later welcomed Brunei Darussalam in 1984. Vietnam joined in 1995, while Laos and Myanmar came into the picture in 1997. Cambodia joined in 1999.

Timor Leste was the latest country to join the regional bloc in 2025.

Fresh legal framework

Since the ASEAN Charter took effect on December 15, 2008, the organization has functioned under a fresh legal framework.

It also created several new bodies designed to accelerate the growth and integration of the ASEAN community.

Under the Charter, ASEAN member-states uphold mutual interests and interdependence; respect and promotion of human rights; and a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia.

They also promote rules-based economic integration, adherence to multilateral trade rules, and elimination of all barriers to regional economic integration.

ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in Southeast Asia. The first ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on February 23 to 24, 1976.

The biannual meeting brings together Southeast Asian leaders to tackle regional challenges, deepen partnerships, and map out long-term goals for the organization.

The regional bloc does not only work among its members, as it also partners with non-ASEAN members.

Under Article 46 of the ASEAN Charter, non-member nations and intergovernmental groups may designate and accredit official ambassadors to ASEAN.

Among the non-ASEAN members with appointed ambassadors to ASEAN are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, India, and Japan.

48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu

The 48th ASEAN Summit is taking place in Cebu until May 8.

A string of ministerial gatherings is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, featuring the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 31st Political Security Community Council.

These sessions, which also include the 38th Coordinating Council and a joint meeting of Foreign and Economic Ministers, will be attended by senior officials from all 11 member-nations in preparation for the main summit on Friday, May 8.

The Philippines previously held the chairship of the regional bloc in 1987, 1999, 2006, and in 2017.

The country will also host the 49th edition in November this year after Myanmar backed out.

The theme for the 2026 ASEAN Summit is “Navigating Our Future, Together.”

Code of Conduct on South China Sea

In October 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea would be finalized during the Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN this year.

The proposed document aims to set rules to prevent the dispute in the South China Sea from escalating into a much worse armed conflict.

The negotiations, however, suffered delays and dragged on for more than a decade.

In August 2018, the ASEAN and China agreed on a single draft of the Code of Conduct, with an agreement reached in November 2018 for both sides to finalize the document within three years.

On Wednesday, May 6, ASEAN 2026 spokesperson and Foreign Affairs deputy assistant secretary for ASEAN affairs Dominic Xavier Imperial said there are good developments regarding negotiations on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea.

Imperial said discussions regarding the document are still ongoing, and member-states expect another meeting about the matter in the next few weeks.

“The discussions and the negotiations of the South China Sea, rather, the COC, while it is ASEAN-related, it is a separate negotiation by itself,” he said in a press briefing, adding: “What I can share with you on the negotiations is we are encouraged by the progress that we’re seeing. Also, we’re very encouraged by the commitment of all parties. So this is the 10 ASEAN countries and China sitting down together.”

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Code of Conduct being negotiated by Southeast Asian states with China “should not diminish the rights and interests of third-party states” in the disputed South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Marcos on Wednesday said he would lead discussions on energy and food security and the safety of ASEAN nationals around the globe during the summit.

He also said the Philippines would champion for peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and cooperation for shared benefit – the founding ideals of the regional bloc. — JMA, GMA News