KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- As the Philippines settles into its 2026 Asean Chair role, the stalled peace process in Myanmar, persistent tensions in the South China Sea, and renewed frictions along the Cambodia-Thailand border are set to test Manila’s steady hands at the centre of some of the region’s most volatile geopolitical fault lines.
The maritime domain is widely seen as the earliest test of credibility, given the Philippines’ dual role as Asean Chair and a claimant state in the South China Sea - a position that demands both diplomatic restraint and regional leadership.
