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ASEAN Leaders to Tackle Myanmar, South China Sea Tensions in Jakarta

  • Posted Sep 5, 2023 09:46 by Anthony Ellis
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JAKARTA: Southeast Asian leaders are gearing up for a crucial summit in Jakarta this week, where they will confront pressing issues, including the ongoing Myanmar crisis and escalating tensions in the South China Sea due to China's new map.

Indonesia is playing host to the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, accompanied by several significant regional meetings, such as the ASEAN plus Three Summit and East Asia Summit. These gatherings will also provide opportunities for the bloc's leaders to engage in dialogues on political and security matters with global players like the United States and China.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Pahala Mansury, highlighted the importance of an essential outcome at the forthcoming summit: Concord IV. This initiative aims to chart ASEAN's long-term vision as it navigates into the future. "It is about the centrality of ASEAN, the importance of ASEAN, some of the future challenges, and how we are going to address them. And also, the ASEAN outlook on the Pacific," Mansury explained.

The crisis in Myanmar, marred by unceasing violence since the military coup two years ago is spilling over into the regional bloc.

Recent reports indicate that Myanmar's ruling military junta intends to forgo its turn as ASEAN chair in 2026.

Ms. Sharon Seah, senior fellow and coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, provided insights into Myanmar's decision. "From Myanmar's decision, we can surmise two things. One, the State Administration Council has a certain timetable it needs to go along with until 2027. They need sufficient time to settle affairs in the country," she commented. "The second thing we surmise is that they are very confident of the validity of their ASEAN membership, regardless of what happens in the country. I think this decision still needs to be discussed within the grouping because they are counting on the Philippines to take Myanmar's turn. And as far as we know, the Philippines have not spoken on this."


The Myanmar conflict is also casting a shadow over the bloc's plans to welcome Timor-Leste as a new member.

Last month, Myanmar's military junta ordered the expulsion of Timor-Leste's top diplomat over a meeting his government held with its opponents, the civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao had previously stated that his country would not join ASEAN unless the Myanmar crisis is resolved.


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