The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened its annual summit on Wednesday, with the protracted civil war in Myanmar and territorial disputes in the South China Sea set to dominate discussions. Following the ASEAN summit in Laos, two days of meetings will take place with global powers, including China, the United States, and Russia, as they vie for influence in the region.

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized on Monday that ASEAN must take a leading role in resolving Myanmar's ongoing civil war. Thailand's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who assumed office in August, is the youngest leader in ASEAN at 38 years old.
"ASEAN must play an important role in bringing peace back to Myanmar as soon as possible," Paetongtarn told an event in Bangkok.

"We will focus on working with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will assume the ASEAN Chairmanship next year, and utilise diplomatic mechanisms to resolve this issue as swiftly as possible," she added.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, whose country will assume the ASEAN chair following the summit, stated that it is time for Myanmar to engage in cooperation.

"Myanmar also has to listen to ASEAN. They have to abide by the ASEAN charter because it's part of ASEAN," he told reporters.

ASEAN, often criticized as an ineffective forum due to its consensus-based decision-making process, has made little headway in addressing the Myanmar crisis. Since the coup, the issue has dominated every high-level meeting, but the bloc remains divided. Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have led calls for stronger action against Myanmar's military leaders, while others have taken a more cautious approach.

Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar and hosts thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict, has held its own bilateral talks with the junta and has urged ASEAN to adopt a more effective strategy.

Paetongtarn's predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, mentioned in an April interview with Reuters that Myanmar's military junta had been weakened, presenting a potential opportunity for negotiations, adding, "Maybe it's time to reach out and make a deal."

Myanmar has been in crisis since February 2021, when the military overthrew the elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that escalated into an armed rebellion against the junta.

ASEAN's influence has traditionally been limited, even within its own membership, but the forum has served as a crucial platform for engagement between global powers and the region. The 10 ASEAN member states—Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos—will also engage in discussions with dialogue partners such as Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia. These talks will cover a range of issues, including economic cooperation, climate change, and energy.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has sent a representative to the ASEAN summit as the ruling junta continues to grapple with an ongoing civil war.

ASEAN leaders are optimistic that their first face-to-face discussions in three and a half years with a junta representative, Aung Kyaw Moe, the permanent secretary of Myanmar's foreign ministry, could pave the way for a breakthrough. Aung Kyaw Moe participated in a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Tuesday, where he requested "understanding as Myanmar seeks a peaceful solution."

In response to the February 2021 coup, ASEAN barred Myanmar's junta leaders from attending its summits, and the military rulers have refused to send "non-political representatives" in their place. However, a senior official from Myanmar's foreign ministry is attending the three-day meeting in Vientiane.

Weeks after taking power, Myanmar's junta agreed to a "five-point consensus" plan aimed at restoring peace, but has since disregarded it, continuing a violent crackdown on dissent and armed opposition. "The significance is that, in a way, they are acknowledging the five-point consensus," a diplomat told AFP. "They may have realized it's better to have their own voice heard rather than remain on the outside."

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing attended an emergency ASEAN summit in April 2021 to address the crisis, but the bloc has since excluded him from regular meetings.

Myanmar's key ally, China, which will participate in the ASEAN summit on Thursday, is keen to see a resolution to the conflict occurring on its border, although it maintains its policy of non-interference in "internal affairs."

In addition to ASEAN and China, representatives from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Canada are also expected to attend the talks. (IPA Service)