Philippines touts rule of law at ASEANAP, CEBU, PhilippinesSoutheast Asian countries should steadfastly maintain restraint and adhere to international law as acts of aggression across Asia and “unilateral actions” elsewhere in the world threaten the rules-based global order, Manila’s top diplomat said yesterday. ASEAN also does not recognize the Burmese elections that ended this month, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro said. Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro speaks at a news conference during an ASEAN meeting in Cebu, Philippines, yesterday. Calling out China and the US, among the largest trading and defense partners of ASEAN members, has been a dilemma and diplomatic tightrope. “These realities underscore the interim importance of ASEAN’s time-honored principles of restraint, dialogue and adherence to international law in seeking to preserve peace and stability to our peoples,” she said.

Source: Taipei Times January 29, 2026 17:15 UTC