Southeast Asian nations have firmly told Myanmar’s military government that its planned election should not be its priority amid an escalating civil war, urging an immediate end to hostilities and the commencement of meaningful dialogue, Al Jazeera reports.
This message was delivered during a ministerial retreat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held on the island of Langkawi over the weekend.
Speaking at a press conference, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, whose country currently holds the ASEAN chair, emphasized the bloc’s stance.
Myanmar’s delegation, represented by a low-level official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – the military leaders have been barred from formal ASEAN meetings – had briefed the gathering on their plans to hold a general election this year. However, ASEAN ministers stressed that achieving peace and stability must precede any such electoral process.
The ministers also called for unhindered humanitarian access to Myanmar, where the United Nations estimates nearly 20 million people, more than a third of the population, are in need of assistance.
New Special Envoy for Myanmar Crisis
To address the ongoing crisis, Malaysia announced the appointment of former diplomat Othman Hashim as special envoy for Myanmar. Hasan said that Hashim would visit Myanmar soon to push for the implementation of ASEAN’s five-point peace plan, which has stalled since its unveiling after the military coup.
Regional Concerns Over US-China Competition, South China Sea
The ministers also discussed the potential ramifications of a second term for incoming US President Donald Trump on the region amid the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China. They voiced concerns that the competition between the two superpowers could further heighten regional tensions, emphasizing the need for ASEAN to bolster unity and make economic integration a priority amid global uncertainties.
The volatile situation in the South China Sea was another key issue on the agenda. The ministers discussed recent confrontations in the waters and acknowledged the continuing overlapping territorial claims between China and several ASEAN member states including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, along with Taiwan.
China’s claim of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a vital global shipping route, has led to rising tensions and protests from several ASEAN countries. While China and ASEAN have committed to drafting a code of conduct for the South China Sea, talks have been slow. Hasan said the ministers welcomed progress made thus far but “highlighted the need to continue the momentum to expedite the code of conduct.”
The foreign minister of the Philippines, a key US ally, had previously stated the need to negotiate key issues of the code, such as its scope and legal binding. Hasan stressed the ministers’ call for an acceleration in negotiations between ASEAN and China.
