Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations opened a three-day summit in Manila on Sunday 15 November 2026, with regional security, the effects of global conflicts and economic uncertainty at the centre of their discussions. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed delegates to the gathering, which is expected to be followed by meetings with leaders from outside Southeast Asia. The Associated Press reported that draft final statements address disputes in the South China Sea, Myanmar and the wider international situation.
A regional summit opens in the Philippine capital
The meeting brings together the bloc’s 11 members in the Philippine capital. Its programme includes talks among Southeast Asian leaders followed by a series of broader diplomatic encounters. The opening is a concrete new stage in a meeting whose preparations and policy debates had already been under way. The discussions are taking place in a tightly secured convention centre by Manila Bay. Their timing gives governments an opportunity to review how events beyond Southeast Asia are affecting their economies, security calculations and citizens. Draft statements show the issues being prepared for discussion; they must not be described as final agreements before the leaders formally adopt them.
Marcos calls for unity amid global pressures
In his opening remarks, Marcos urged governments to preserve unity despite the differences between their political systems and strategic interests. He identified geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, emerging technologies, climate change and threats that cross national boundaries as challenges no single country can manage by itself. The appeal reflects a central difficulty for ASEAN: its members share an important regional forum, but they do not always agree about how to respond to conflicts or how closely to align with major powers. The opening remarks establish the host’s priorities, not proof that every disagreement between the governments has been settled.
South China Sea and Myanmar remain difficult issues
According to the draft communiqués reviewed by the Associated Press, leaders are expected to support respect for international law, peaceful settlement of disputes and freedom of navigation and overflight. These principles are particularly relevant to competing claims and tensions in the South China Sea. The civil war in Myanmar is another issue expected to feature in the talks. ASEAN has struggled to turn declarations of shared concern into effective collective responses to regional crises. At the time of the report, the drafts indicated what participants were considering, but did not confirm a new binding agreement on maritime claims or an immediate resolution to the fighting in Myanmar.
A busy diplomatic week beyond the ASEAN meetings
The schedule also includes visits and meetings involving major external partners. United States President Donald Trump was expected in Manila on Tuesday afternoon, after the main ASEAN discussions, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Philippine officials outlined plans for a special meeting with ASEAN leaders and a gathering of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, involving the United States, Japan, Australia and India. Trump was also expected to meet Marcos on Wednesday before travelling separately to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. These were announced plans at the time of reporting; they should not be mistaken for completed meetings or agreements.
China represented by its premier
China was expected to be represented by Premier Li Qiang, who was scheduled to meet ASEAN leaders on Monday and depart before Trump’s arrival. The different schedules illustrate how the Manila event links Southeast Asian diplomacy to wider relations involving China and the United States. Regional governments have important trade and political relationships with both powers, while their interests and approaches do not always coincide. The presence of international visitors does not mean that the participating countries have reached a common position on every strategic question. For that reason, formal statements and confirmed decisions will be more useful than predictions about possible concessions.
Main points established at the opening
- The summit opened in Manila on Sunday 15 November 2026 and was scheduled to continue for three days.
- ASEAN comprises 11 member countries at the time of the meeting.
- Draft statements address international law, regional disputes and the consequences of global conflicts.
- The Philippines was expected to hand the bloc’s rotating chairmanship to Singapore.
- Talks with the United States and other partners were scheduled after the main summit meetings.
Those points describe the opening programme rather than the eventual outcome of the talks. The distinction matters because draft language can change before a final communiqué is issued, and scheduled bilateral meetings do not guarantee specific results.
What remains to be confirmed
- The exact language of the final statements adopted by ASEAN leaders.
- Any new commitments concerning Myanmar and the South China Sea.
- The results of the scheduled meetings with external partners later in the week.
Source: Associated Press
