As the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, the region faces increasing political, security, and strategic challenges. This episode examines how Manila is navigating leadership amid domestic constraints, regional crises, and a complex international environment.
Speaker:
Mr. Lucio Blanco Pitlo III
President, Philippine Association for Chinese Studies
Research Fellow, Asia Pathway to Progress Foundation
Host:
Mr. Him Rotha
Deputy Director, Cambodian Center for Regional Studies
Key issues discussed include:
• The overall political and strategic mood surrounding the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship
• The Philippines’ approach to the South China Sea
• ASEAN’s response to the Myanmar crisis • The Philippines’ potential role in managing the Cambodia–Thailand conflict
This discussion provides timely insights into ASEAN’s leadership challenges and the region’s evolving fault lines at a critical moment.

