All preparations are complete for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu on January 29, an informal meeting of top diplomats to shape the bloc’s agenda ahead of leaders’ summits in May and November.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for ASEAN 2026 Dax Imperial said the retreat will center on the Philippines’ chairship priorities and deliverables, while following up on the outcome of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia last year.
He confirmed that all ASEAN foreign ministers will attend, except Myanmar, which will send a senior official with the rank of Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Beyond deliverables, the 11 states are expected to discuss pressing regional and global concerns, including the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea.
“The Retreat is a closed-door meeting, allowing for a more candid discussion. In that regard, the Ministers are free to discuss issues that they wish to raise, which may include the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea,” Imperial said.
Asked if tensions in the Taiwan Strait would be part of the talks, Imperial deferred to post-Retreat statements.
In a recent forum hosted by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, retired Ambassador Marilyn Alarilla urged ASEAN to pursue “preventive action” to avoid escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
She emphasized that ASEAN should continue advocating cooperation and respect for the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia among signatories.
The Cebu retreat is expected to set the tone for ASEAN’s priorities under the Philippines’ chairship, balancing regional security concerns with long-term cooperation goals.