ASEAN not losing its centrality, DFA chief Lazaro assures
Published Nov 17, 2025 05:27 pm
(Photo from ASEAN 2026 PH via Facebook)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro denied that there is an erosion of the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose summits and meetings the Philippines will chair in 2026, amid regional and global threats due to great power rivalry, internal divisions, and institutional limitations.
In a press conference on Monday, Nov. 17, for the launch of the Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN next year, the DFA chief reiterated that there is no loss of ASEAN centrality, contrary to major think-tanks’ opinions that the regional bloc’s leadership is being challenged by trade tensions and a shifting world order.
“I was there during the summit in (Kuala Lumpur) and I never felt that there was a loss of…an erosion of ASEAN centrality, I didn't feel it,” she said, maintaining that “I never get the notion with any other delegate in ASEAN.”
She backed Malaysia, the ASEAN host for 2025, and stressed that Philippines’ neighbor “did its very best.”
“What I'm trying to say is I do not think that there was an erosion of ASEAN centrality in the last summit and we will continue to have that, continue to strengthen ASEAN, I'm sorry, centrality, as well as solidarity. So, I never had the notion, I never had any discussion that there was such an erosion of ASEAN centrality,” Lazaro added.
The official, however, admitted that United States President Donald Trump “had his own work cut out for him,” though she did not mention about the current trade practices that the US has employed under the second Trump administration.
Myanmar elections
Meanwhile, Lazaro committed to continuing Malaysia’s work, particularly in dealing with the Myanmar elections that will be held next month.
“The objective right now is to build on what has been done with the previous years, particularly Malaysia. Malaysia had about 170 engagements, and we are of the view that we cannot do everything that was done by Malaysia, or even the past years, starting from today,” the DFA chief said.
“So it is the view, it is our view, it is the Philippine position, that we will just be working on what has been established. And to continue, it's really the issue of continuity, so that we know what they have done before is something that we can just continue to do,” she added.
The secretary shared that this will be further discussed during the foreign ministers retreat in January, adding that there will still be working group meetings and discussions before Malaysia’s chairmanship ends on Dec. 31.
“When ASEAN gets observer missions to the election, for the elections in December, this is still being discussed. Should ASEAN have a long-term special envoy? Perhaps all this will be discussed, particularly the possibility of getting a longer-term special envoy during the chairship of the Philippines,” Lazaro furthered.
The Myanmar polls will have two phases—one on Dec. 28 and the second on Jan. 11. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has once noted on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit that nobody believes the Myanmar elections will be fair and free.
The country has been in political turmoil since the military seized power in 2021, ousting a civilian government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.