ASEAN to Hold Emergency Talks on Myanmar Crisis

[geovalin]

government archive

 

ASEAN will convene two special meetings next week to address Myanmar’s deepening civil conflict, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn announced Wednesday, marking the bloc’s most focused diplomatic effort on the crisis in years.

 

Speaking from Jakarta, Kao told Reuters that the sessions—set to take place in Malaysia—will concentrate solely on Myanmar, with no other agenda items. The first meeting will involve Malaysia, Laos, and the Philippines, as current, former, and incoming ASEAN chairs, respectively. The second will gather ASEAN’s foreign ministers.

 

“This is something new,” Kao said. “They will take no other issue.”

 

ASEAN’s 2021 “Five Point Consensus” peace plan, which demands a cessation of violence and inclusive dialogue, has stalled amid continued fighting and widespread human rights abuses by Myanmar’s military. Junta leaders remain barred from ASEAN summits for their failure to cooperate.

 

The conflict has displaced an estimated 3.5 million people since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup. Myanmar, once seen as an emerging democracy, has since descended into chaos, with ethnic minority forces and pro-democracy groups waging a growing rebellion.

 

Despite mounting criticism of ASEAN’s inaction, Kao defended the bloc’s approach, calling the consensus “beautiful” and insisting that progress will be slow but possible. “It may take time. We all are too impatient,” he said.

 

He declined to comment directly on recent military airstrikes reported during a supposed post-earthquake ceasefire in March, saying it was unclear who broke the truce.

 

Beyond Myanmar, Kao reiterated ASEAN’s aim to finalise a long-delayed code of conduct with China for the contested South China Sea by 2026, and confirmed East Timor’s likely accession to the bloc later this year.

 

While few expect next week’s talks to deliver a breakthrough, ASEAN’s decision to dedicate exclusive sessions to Myanmar reflects growing concern that inaction may only prolong one of Southeast Asia’s most intractable crises.

 

-2025-05-22