ASEAN

President Marcos and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Kazan this week to explore ways to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

1 Mwezi wa sita, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged greater unity among middle powers during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31, describing the Philippines as a convergence point in a fragmented world.

The Philippine government is rallying ASEAN neighbors for a strong united position on climate obligations ahead of COP31 in Turkey later this year. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna stated this during a press briefing on April 27 at the opening of ASEAN Climate Week.

15 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Southeast Asian nations to activate and test their fuel-sharing pact, citing vulnerabilities exposed by the Middle East conflict for import-dependent economies. The Department of Energy said another round of fuel rollbacks remains possible next week, though officials cautioned against assuming the downtrend will hold amid global oil market volatility. DOE also ordered fuel firms to report storage capacities to prepare for disruptions.

Several Southeast Asian countries are introducing or maintaining tourism taxes in 2026 to fund sustainable practices and infrastructure. Thailand will levy a 300-baht entry fee on foreign visitors starting February, while Bali requires a one-time IDR 150,000 payment. Malaysia applies a nightly room tax, and Vietnam has no specific entry fee but ongoing tax discussions.

17 Mwezi wa pili, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

South Korea has expressed support for the Philippines' hosting of the ASEAN Summit this year and its desire to boost ties with the region. Representatives from both countries discussed strengthening relations and expanding investments. They reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties ahead of the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations in March.