THAI foreign policy expert Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn has called on the Philippines to restore balance in ASEAN as it prepares to chair the regional summit next year.
He warned that ASEAN risks losing its centrality amid growing influence from both the United States and China.
‘We are very much hopeful that, with the Philippine leadership in ASEAN, the Philippines-who know the Americans best in the region-can bring back the centrality, the equilibrium,’ Panitan said during the Asian Forum on Enterprise for Society.
Panitan, a former foreign policy advisor to the Thai Prime Minister, cautioned ASEAN against becoming a platform dominated by superpowers. ‘President Trump turned the ASEAN Summit into a Trump Summit in the first half. The Chinese are doing the same in the second half,’ he said. ‘It’s up to the Philippines to create better balance next year.’
Trump’s Peace Deal and China’s Trade Strategy
At the last ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Trump brokered a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord was initially hailed as a breakthrough but quickly unraveled after a landmine explosion injured Thai soldiers. Critics say the deal hijacked the summit’s agenda and sidelined ASEAN’s broader priorities.
Panitan echoed this concern, noting that Malaysia’s chairmanship struggled to maintain neutrality. ‘I think [Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim] has not done quite well in terms of balancing,’ he said. ‘But it came with difficulties because Mr. Trump came here with high tariffs, tax, and pressuring all countries-particularly Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam-to sign an MOU on rail and many more.’
Meanwhile, China expanded its economic footprint by signing the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).
The revised deal boosts market access, streamlines customs procedures, and strengthens digital trade cooperation-further embedding China into ASEAN’s economic framework.
‘China is moving closer to the center of ASEAN centrality,’ Panitan warned. He urged the Philippines to ensure both superpowers remain engaged-without overpowering the bloc’s collective voice.
ASEAN Must Respond Faster to Global Crises
Panitan stressed that ASEAN leaders must act faster in today’s volatile geopolitical landscape.
‘In 1997, we had days to respond. Now, policymakers have only hours,’ he said, recalling his role during the Asian Financial Crisis. ‘Business leaders respond in minutes. Governments must catch up.’
He called for AI-driven crisis response systems and deeper integration of civil society and youth in ASEAN governance.
‘The fourth pillar-citizen participation-is not institutionalized. The Philippines can lead here,’ Panitan told BusinessMirror in a side interview.
Call for Inclusive Maritime Cooperation
Panitan also proposed forming a non-claimant coalition within ASEAN to engage China on maritime safety and environmental protection in the South China Sea.
‘Even non-claimants have high stakes. We must inject balance and focus on low-hanging fruits that affect real people-fishermen, traders, travelers,’ he said.
Among ASEAN’s 11 members, seven are non-claimants in the South China Sea: Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
Panitan said a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is ‘long overdue.’
He expressed concern over China’s naval buildup, including the commissioning of its third aircraft carrier.
‘It’s not a good sign,’ he said. ‘The naval buildup-especially in the South China Sea-is a response to the US Indo-Pacific strategy, but it’s still not good for ASEAN as a whole.’
He urged the Philippines to lead efforts toward peaceful management of maritime disputes. ‘China’s intentions are not that clear, especially compared to Taiwan,’ he said. ‘The relationship between the Philippines and China has not been stable in recent years. The Philippine leadership must lead us out of troubled waters.’
He urged the Philippines to lead efforts toward peaceful management of maritime disputes. ‘China’s intentions are not that clear, especially compared to Taiwan,’ he said. ‘The relationship between the Philippines and China has not been stable in recent years. The Philippine leadership must lead us out of troubled waters.’