The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed its readiness to act as a "mediator" to resolve the dispute and restore the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, as it prepares to succeed Malaysia as ASEAN chair in 2026 amid ongoing tensions along the border.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement saying the Philippine government is prepared to take on the role of coordinator and mediator in the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, if both sides decide to request assistance through the ASEAN chair mechanism, immediately upon officially assuming the chairmanship in January 2026.
This statement followed a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers from all 11 countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, convened to seek ways to restore the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after over two weeks of continued rocket and artillery clashes.
At the meeting, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to have their senior military commanders meet to discuss reviving the ceasefire agreement that was negotiated in July and officially signed at the 47th ASEAN Summit at the end of October.
Beyond the tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the Philippines will also face complex regional security challenges in 2026, including the crisis in Myanmar. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro will serve as ASEAN’s "special envoy" specifically to address the Myanmar situation, as well as issues concerning the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where efforts are underway to finalize a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" agreement between ASEAN and China within 2026.
Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, is pushing to ease tensions before handing over the chairmanship to the Philippines, marking a critical test for ASEAN in maintaining stability and peace amid member states’ conflicts in the region.