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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Will Trump, Xi come to PH for ASEAN events? 'No word yet,' says DFA

Will Trump, Xi come to PH for ASEAN events? 'No word yet,' says DFA

Published Jan 8, 2026 01:45 pm
FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, western Japan, June 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, western Japan, June 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
The Philippine government is still awaiting confirmation on the  respective participation of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the upcoming 48th and 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Cebu and Manila, where the South China Sea issue is expected to be negotiated.
Dax Imperial, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s spokesman for ASEAN events, said the agency has not received any official confirmation from the sides of Trump and Xi regarding their attendance in the events.
“We don't have the official receipt of the names of the representatives [for dialogue partner countries]," Imperial said Thursday, Jan. 8, as the ASEAN National Operating Council (NOC) held its first briefing for the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN summits.
"For China, usually it's the premier who attends. 'Yung (Regarding the) US, no official confirmation, and if it's gonna be Trump. For Russia, ganoon din po (it's the same)," he added, noting that it is "early to say."
The 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will be held in Cebu in May, which will be followed by the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila in November.
The US, China, Russia—along with Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom—are the dialogue partners of ASEAN, which are composed of 11 member states.
Their leaders' attendance are anticipated during the summits as ASEAN tackles with its partners global issues, although they are not as highly expected or required as ASEAN leaders.
Manila's hosting of ASEAN events in 2026 came as the US continues to strengthen its defense ties with the Philippines, which, at the same time, is negotiating with China and other ASEAN members on various disputes in the South China Sea.
During Malaysia's hosting of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in October 2025, Trump attended the US-ASEAN Summit. It was his first participation in the regional bloc's event since attending the same meeting in 2017, which happened also in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the 28th China-ASEAN Summit, the 28th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 20th East Asia Summit and the fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Leaders' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Xi’s behalf.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak attended on Putin's behalf.
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