On 15-16 April 2026 Representatives from the Department of ASEAN Affairs participated in the 8^th ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies (ARF ISM on ICTs Security) and the 16^th ASEAN Regional Forum Open-Ended Study Group on Confidence Building Measures to Reduce the Risk of Conflict Stemming from the Use of ICTs (OESG) in Manila.

Co-chaired by the Philippines and Canada, the meetings exchanged views on ICTs security development in the region and ideas to update the current ICTs security work plan under the ARF framework to address the evolving ICTs security landscape and its challenges.

Thailand shared its efforts in advancing ICTs security such as capacity building through ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre, promoting the exchange of knowledge through the organisation of Thailand International Cyber Week 2026, publication of AI Security Guidelines and Thailand's National Position on the Application of International Law in Cyberspace. Furthermore, Thailand, as co-chair of the ARF Workshop on Lessons Learned in Governance of Security of and in the Use of ICTs held last February, briefed the meeting on the outcomes and underscored the importance of enhancing shared understanding to promote the implementation of norms of responsible State behaviour.

The ARF is an ASEAN-led mechanism aimed at confidence building among its 27 participants through open and constructive exchange on political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific.