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Old, new, borrowed and blue: What are the Philippines’ priorities as it chairs Asean anew?

Twin crises of the South China Sea and the Myanmar conflict aside, Manila’s chairmanship comes with the responsibility of engaging Timor-Leste

Goh Ruoxue
Published Wed, Dec 10, 2025 · 03:00 PM
    • At the launch of the Philippines' Asean chairmanship logo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s address omitted any mention of the South China Sea and instead centred on the use of AI.
    • At the launch of the Philippines' Asean chairmanship logo, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s address omitted any mention of the South China Sea and instead centred on the use of AI. PHOTO: BT FILE

    [SINGAPORE] The Philippines’ unveiling of its logo at the launch of its Asean chairmanship seemed to say much about the country’s priorities for the year ahead.

    The logo features a wooden balangay – the country’s national boat –riding a wave that symbolises the waters binding the bloc’s 11 member states.

    Yet, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s address at the launch propelled a different rhetoric – one that omitted any mention of the troubled waters of the South China Sea, and instead centred on championing the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

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