Anwar to push regional security, Myanmar crisis and South China Sea at ASEAN Summit

Southeast Asian leaders convened in Manila on November 15, 2026, for a critical ASEAN summit, with energy concerns, security tensions and geopolitical rivalry posing significant challenges. US President Donald Trump, a high-profile figure, was set to arrive on November 17, marking the first Quad meeting of his second term, a strategic counterbalance to China's regional influence.

The summit aimed to tackle trade, energy security and ASEAN relations with global powers. Trump's visit included a side meeting with India, Japan, and Australia.

Security was heightened, with nearly 20,000 police personnel deployed across Metro Manila. Anti-Trump protests were anticipated, and one issue was the US-led Pax Silica program, which aimed to strengthen supply chains and tackle China's dominance in semiconductors and rare earth minerals. The controversial Philippine artificial intelligence manufacturing hub, a 1,620-hectare project, faced criticism over potential Indigenous displacement.

ASEAN's pressing challenges included the South China Sea Code of Conduct and Myanmar's exclusion from high-level meetings following a 2021 military coup. Despite negotiations being 80% complete, an agreement was unlikely to be signed during the summit, according to a Southeast Asian diplomat. The summit also addressed regional tensions in the South China Sea, where China's territorial claims overlap with several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines.

ASEAN leaders began discussions on November 14, focusing on Indonesia's transboundary haze and regional fuel-sharing arrangements. The summit tested ASEAN's unity while managing growing strategic competition among major powers. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim led the Malaysian delegation, emphasizing the commitment to regional unity, peace, and prosperity.