48th ASEAN Summit Final Preparations Underway in Cebu — 10,000 Police Deploy, ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit Precedes May 7-8 Leaders Meeting; Myanmar Reintegration and SCS Code of Conduct on Agenda

As of April 29, 2026, Cebu City and the Philippine government reported 80% readiness for the 48th ASEAN Leaders Summit (May 7-8, 2026) and the immediately preceding ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit (May 7). Approximately 10,000 police personnel are being deployed for summit security in Cebu, alongside AFP force protection elements. Approximately 11 heads of state and government are expected to attend, along with 3,000 delegates and over 2,000 international media representatives. The Philippine Tribune (April 29) confirmed that the ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit — a formal dialogue between ASEAN and the European Union on climate, green economy, and supply chain resilience — will precede the core leaders' meeting, reflecting the EU's interest in deepening Indo-Pacific engagement during a period of heightened SCS tensions. The Cebu summit carries significant regional security weight: Philippine DFA Secretary Lazaro has stated that a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) is 'something we owe the world.' Key unresolved COC issues entering the summit include: (1) geographic scope (whether Taiwan Strait is included or only the South China Sea proper), (2) legal bindingness vs. aspirational language, (3) enforcement mechanisms, and (4) whether a COC can override the 2016 PCA arbitral award. ASEAN Chair Malaysia's PM Anwar Ibrahim has committed to fast-tracking COC negotiations in 2026. The summit also faces a significant procedural division on Myanmar's reintegration into ASEAN structures following the 2021 coup: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste remain opposed to full normalization, while Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam support it. Min Aung Hlaing was elected to Myanmar's presidency in April 2026 after handing military command to Ye Win Oo, complicating ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus process.