The Philippines will put peace and security at the forefront when it chairs the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said peace and security is one of three central priorities for ASEAN 2026, which carries the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Speaking during the launch of the Philippines’ chairship on Friday in Manila, he said the bloc will also focus on prosperity corridors and people empowerment.
“In the area of peace and security, our Chairship will highlight the responsible and ethical use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to strengthen ASEAN’s capacity to anticipate and to respond to new and evolving security challenges,” Marcos said.
He added that AI should be harnessed for early warning systems, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response, “ensuring that technology becomes a force for stability rather than division.”
China, locked in a tense maritime dispute with the Philippines, has reportedly used AI to push disinformation campaigns and propaganda related to the South China Sea. Beijing continuously asserts sweeping sovereignty over the waterway despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected its claims.
As ASEAN chair, Marcos said the Philippines will continue to “champion peace, stability, and dialogue” in the region, anchored on ASEAN’s founding principles, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and the United Nations Charter.
“We shall continue to champion peace and stability through dialogue, adherence to international law, and enhanced cooperation on traditional and non-traditional security issues,” he said.
Marcos earlier said he would invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the ASEAN Summit next year in Manila. China is one of ASEAN’s dialogue partners.
To mark the national launch of the Philippines’ Chairship, the ASEAN 2026 logo was projected at the SM Mall of Asia Globe in Pasay City.
The President said the official ASEAN Philippines 2026 logo and stamp reflect unity of purpose and Filipino warmth. The ASEAN Philippines 2026 website will also be launched.
ASEAN member nations include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste, which was only formally accepted as an official member of the regional bloc in October.
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