Overview
- Foreign ministers met in Cebu on Jan 28–29 for the first major ASEAN gathering of 2026 under Manila's chairmanship.
- Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the bloc has not endorsed Myanmar’s three‑phase elections "as of now" and reaffirmed reliance on the 2021 Five‑Point Consensus.
- Lazaro reported on January outreach to Naypyidaw and opposition stakeholders, while Thailand voiced hope the polls could open space for dialogue without a collective endorsement.
- Ministers agreed to hold monthly sessions with China this year to accelerate Code of Conduct negotiations toward a 2026 conclusion, with legal scope and binding force still unresolved.
- Diplomats said the Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire remains fragile and backed ongoing monitoring to help prevent renewed border clashes.