President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s role in facilitating a trilateral meeting to ease tensions between Thailand and Cambodia has put a spotlight on Philippine diplomacy and how it is, as always, anchored on dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
On the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on May 7, the awaited meeting between the three leaders — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Marcos — resulted in Cambodia and Thailand agreeing to sustain talks and prevent actions that could escalate their ongoing border dispute.
Hun and Anutin also agreed to work on measures to rebuild trust and confidence and gradually restore bilateral relations between Cambodia and Thailand — a commitment later sealed with a historic handshake in the presence of Marcos.
“The President’s remarks after the trilateral meeting perfectly capture the Philippines’ role and contribution to the meeting that brought the two countries together. As the President said, now is not the time for war; now is the time for peace, dialogue, and discussion,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said in a text message to the Philippines News Agency.
“Recognition for the Philippines is appreciated, but we are aware that what truly matters at the end of the day is achieving a peaceful ASEAN region that is focused on achieving prosperity, development and community-building, together,” she added.
In a PTV interview on Monday, political analyst Froilan Calilung said the trilateral meeting sends a “good impression that the President is really after for peaceful resolution of conflicts.”
“This also sends a strong message to our other ASEAN brothers that we are fully committed to resolving conflicts in the most amicable way,” he said.
“[It is] consistent with the ASEAN way. And I think ito ‘yong gustong ilatag sa atin ng ating Pangulo (this is what the president wants to display),” he added.
Calilung said the Philippines’ push for diplomacy as ASEAN chair against the backdrop of tensions happening in the region “creates avenues of trust, cooperation, and amity,” which further solidifies the value of ASEAN as a bloc.
On top of positioning the country as peacemaker in ASEAN, he said Marcos’ show of commitment to diffusing tensions through peaceful means equally brings in gains and opportunities for the Philippines as a nation.
“Itong mga ganitong activities (This kind of activities), especially forged by the president or spearheaded by the president, I think it creates avenues by which trust and cooperation is actually going to be built,” Calilung said.
“And this is very important for securing investments in the long run. Because you can never have investors if they, in the first place, will not be fully trusting and committed to whatever you believe in,” he added.
The Philippines utilized its offices as ASEAN chair for 2026 to host the meeting between Cambodia and Thailand.
After the dialogue, both Hun and Anutin thanked Marcos for convening the trilaterals, with the Cambodian leader himself commending the Filipino president for his “constructive” leadership in promoting regional peace, stability and unity. (PNA)
