Southeast Asian leaders gathered in Laos for the ASEAN summit focusing on the Myanmar crisis and South China Sea tensions, with discussions involving global powers such as the U.S. and China. The ASEAN bloc is addressing challenges to its credibility while fostering economic and geopolitical cooperation among its ten member states. Myanmar’s ongoing turmoil remains a significant concern, compounded by the competitive dynamics in the South China Sea.
On Wednesday, the leaders of Southeast Asia convened in Vientiane, Laos, for their annual ASEAN summit, focusing on critical issues such as the ongoing civil strife in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea—two longstanding challenges that threaten the credibility of the regional bloc. This summit is anticipated to include discussions with major global powers, including China, the United States, and Russia, which are vying for influence in the region. The convergence of representatives from the ten member states of ASEAN—Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos—will also involve dialogues with partners from Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia on various topics including economic cooperation, climate change, and energy. During the opening remarks, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone welcomed the newly elected leaders from Thailand and Singapore, emphasizing Laos’s commitment to fostering collaboration among ASEAN members while addressing geopolitical and economic challenges during its term as chair. “We help one another, and work together the ASEAN way,” he stated, highlighting the aspirations to discuss and reinforce cooperation within ASEAN and with external partners while maintaining ASEAN’s unity and significance. Thailand’s new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest leader at the age of 38, alongside Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong earlier this year, represent a generational shift in leadership within the bloc. In attendance, but not as prime minister, was Indonesia’s Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, filling in for President Joko Widodo, ahead of the latter’s transition of power. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to represent President Joe Biden at the meeting, while China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang. Dan Kritenbrink, a senior U.S. diplomat, emphasized that U.S.-China relations, especially regarding China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, will significantly dominate the discussions. He noted, “A number of (China)-related issues are likely to come up in the context of the ASEAN meetings…” adding that recently frayed U.S.-China relations will come under scrutiny. With overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, ASEAN member states such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei are concerned about China’s expanding influence and aggressiveness in the region. Negotiations regarding a code of conduct for the South China Sea, initiated years ago, have made minimal progress amid repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar looms heavily over the discussions as well. Since the military takeover ousting Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, Myanmar has witnessed severe violence leading to approximately 6,000 deaths and displacing more than three million individuals. The junta has engaged minimally with the ASEAN peace plan aimed at establishing dialogue and ceasefire. Thailand is expected to host further discussions on the Myanmar crisis in December, yet it remains uncertain who will actively participate from Myanmar due to its contentious political situation. Attending this summit for the first time, Myanmar’s top representative, Aung Kyaw Moe, has been met with skepticism regarding ASEAN’s commitment to dealing with the nation’s turmoil, reflecting ongoing tensions within the group over the handling of political crises. As these discussions unfold, experts believe that genuine breakthroughs remain elusive, as individual national interests may overshadow collective regional aims.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been grappling with several challenges, notably the civil conflict in Myanmar and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Established to promote political and economic cooperation among its member states, ASEAN faces criticism regarding its effectiveness, particularly in conflict resolution and regional unity. With rising geopolitical tensions, the bloc aims to navigate its relationships with superpowers and foster collaborative solutions while addressing internal crises.
The ASEAN summit in Laos underscores the bloc’s efforts to confront pressing regional challenges, notably the crisis in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea. While the engagement of global powers at these talks is pivotal, the effectiveness of ASEAN in fostering resolution remains under scrutiny as national interests seem to take precedence over collaborative regional strategies. With new leadership emerging within the member states, the path forward will require a delicate balance of diplomacy and unity.
Original Source: www.khaosodenglish.com
