Advertisement
Opinion | With China and the US, Asean is still between a rock and a hard place
- After excluding Myanmar from its latest summit, Asean announced a strategic partnership with China and a similar deal with Australia, the US’ security partner
- Clearly, the bloc continues to walk a tightrope amid increased regional tensions
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
10
The Asean summit that concluded in Brunei at the end of October was significant in its exclusion of Myanmar’s military leader. This was an unprecedented move for the grouping, which cited the junta’s non-compliance with the “Five-Point Consensus” adopted at the Asean Leaders’ Meeting in April.
Under the consensus, Myanmar’s military junta had to ensure “immediate cessation of violence” in the country. However, it was evident in the ensuing months that it had not complied.
The military leadership also refused to give an Asean envoy, Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Eryan Yusof, access to political detainees including ousted leader and activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
Advertisement
However, in typical Asean style, the group decided that while Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing would be excluded from the summit, it would invite a non-political representative from the country instead. Myanmar did not send anyone.
In a chairman’s statement released after the summit, the group said: “We reiterated that Myanmar remains a member of the Asean family and recognised that Myanmar needs both time and political space to deal with its many and complex challenges.”
Advertisement
But the subtext of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s decision goes beyond concern for human rights and democracy in the country. There is also the fact of US President Joe Biden’s participation in the Asean summit and the subsequent East Asia Summit.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x