Is Asean’s ‘meek diplomacy’ sufficient to end Myanmar conflict?
Asean’s individual members will decide whether to send observers to monitor what critics say will be a ‘sham election’ in Myanmar
“Myanmar was lower on the agenda at the summit compared with other pressing regional economic and strategic issues, such as trade, security cooperation and managing US-China competition,” Vu Lam, a policy analyst and Asean observer, told This Week in Asia.
“Consequently, the political will and capital to address the Myanmar issue were understandably inadequate.”
It called for “all parties and stakeholders … to de-escalate violence and stop targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and enhance trust-building efforts”, alongside the full implementation of an expanded ceasefire as reaffirmed by an earlier statement put out by the bloc in May.