Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have put ASEAN under global spotlight through his diplomatic engagements with US President Donald Trump in a recent summit, but questions remain over whether more tangible outcomes could be achieved during Malaysia’s chairmanship term.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday formally accepted the Philippines’ role as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim turned over the ASEAN chairship gavel to Marcos during the

President Donald Trump, during his trip to Asia, will participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia before making stops in Japan and South Korea.

From the main plenary halls to the glitzy trade side meetings, China made its presence felt at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits.

Beijing is hoping to use an expanded free trade deal to portray itself as the bloc’s alternative to the United States.

China pressed on Monday for stronger economic ties and more open trade at a regional summit in Malaysia dominated by the shadow of steep U.S. tariffs after proceedings attended by President Donald Trump.

At the close of this year’s ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially accepted the bloc’s chairmanship from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — a symbolic handover that also placed on the Philippines' shoulders a set of regional problems with no easy fixes.

The country’s admission caps off a 14-year journey toward accession, but also presents new challenges for the Southeast Asian bloc.