As regional leaders gather in Malaysia for the 46th ASEAN Summit, the Philippines has voiced strong support for advancing three key items on the agenda: The long-anticipated full membership of Timor-Leste, revitalisation of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and resolving the protracted crisis in Myanmar.
Speaking to Bernama after arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Theressa P Lazaro underscored Manila’s belief that the summit, chaired by Malaysia, presents a timely opportunity for ASEAN to deliver meaningful outcomes on longstanding issues.
Top of the Philippines’ priorities is the admission of Timor-Leste as ASEAN’s 11th member. The small Southeast Asian nation has been seeking membership since 2011.
ASEAN agreed in principle to the bid during the 40th and 41st Summits in 2022, contingent on Timor-Leste meeting the requirements laid out in a detailed Full Membership Roadmap.
“We think there’s just some technical problems along the way,” Lazaro said, adding that Malaysia is well-positioned to push the process forward.
ASEAN has been working with Timor-Leste to support institutional development and integration efforts but capacity gaps and procedural delays have slowed full accession.
“A breakthrough at this summit would mark a historic expansion of the bloc and reinforce ASEAN’s commitment to regional inclusivity,” she said.
Lazaro said that the Philippines expects the summit to provide renewed impetus to resolve the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, now entering its fifth year since the February 2021 military coup.
“The situation in Myanmar is a very important issue, and Malaysia Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has been doing a lot of work on this matter,” she said, commending Malaysia’s active role in driving ASEAN’s diplomatic efforts. “I think your special envoy is doing an excellent job too.”
The coup, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, plunged Myanmar into a deadly conflict, sparking civil war, mass displacement and economic collapse. She shared that ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus has struggled to gain traction but recent talks hint at potential negotiations between the junta and pro-democracy forces.
Meanwhile, Lazaro revealed that with the Indo-Pacific region facing growing geopolitical competition, the Philippines is also advocating for the revitalisation of ARF, a key multilateral platform for political and security dialogue.
“Revamping the ARF to make it more responsive to emerging threats, including cybersecurity, transnational crime and maritime tensions, is seen as critical to reinforcing ASEAN’s central role in regional peace and stability,” she said.
Lazaro heaped praise on Malaysia’s stewardship of ASEAN during this pivotal year, describing Anwar’s leadership as “exemplary” in navigating complex issues.
“Malaysia is doing a very good job, and the fact that we’re in full force to participate is because Malaysia has the leadership.
“Whatever has been built during Malaysia’s chairmanship is something that we would like to follow and build on,” she said.
As the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in the coming years, Lazaro said her country looks forward to continuing Malaysia’s work and deepening ASEAN integration and collaboration.
With high-level meetings set to begin on May 26 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, all eyes are on the summit’s outcomes which is seen as a crucial litmus test for ASEAN’s ability to act decisively in a rapidly evolving regional landscape.
