The Philippines, ASEAN’s new chair, starts 2026 on a ‘weaker footing’ after trade tensions and a $2 billion corruption scandal

The Philippines is on a “weaker footing” heading into 2026, thanks to corruption scandals and a complicated trade environment, testing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysia, the previous chair, had a busy 2025, needing to handle both the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Southeast Asian economies, and a violent border conflict between member countries Thailand and Cambodia.