Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced that the 11-member bloc agreed to pursue constructive and principled engagement anchored in its April 2021 framework. Although some nations like Thailand have stepped up bilateral contacts, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro affirmed there is no easing of the bloc's overall approach. Meanwhile, the crisis has escalated into a devastating conflict that United Nations estimates show has killed roughly 100,000 people and displaced over 3.5 million. Marcos pressed fellow leaders to explore further actions to mitigate the severe humanitarian fallout affecting displaced families and youth.
Key points
Southeast Asian leaders remain committed to their 2021 framework demanding an immediate h…: Southeast Asian leaders remain committed to their 2021 framework demanding an immediate halt to violence and constructive dialogue among all parties.
High-level meeting bans against Myanmar's military leaders will not be eased despite bila…: High-level meeting bans against Myanmar's military leaders will not be eased despite bilateral overtures from neighbors like Thailand.
The summit in Manila emphasized urgent humanitarian concerns regarding the severe disrupt…: The summit in Manila emphasized urgent humanitarian concerns regarding the severe disruption and displacement impacting Myanmar's communities and youth.
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ASEAN leaders keep pressure on Myanmar to end violence, while reaffirming engagement under the bloc’s five-point peace plan, Ferdinand Marcos Jr says.
MANILA: Southeast Asian leaders reaffirmed the need to keep engaging with Myanmar while sticking with a plan calling for an immediate end to violence in the war-torn country, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Sunday (Nov 15).
Chairing the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, Marcos said the 11-member bloc agreed to pursue "constructive and principled engagement" while adhering to its five-point peace plan, ASEAN's framework for responding to the crisis in Myanmar since a 2021 coup.
The summit is under pressure to ease a five-year ban on Myanmar's military-backed leaders attending high-level meetings, after Thailand and several other members stepped up engagement despite Myanmar's civil war.
The army-backed government wants to normalise ties with ASEAN after its leaders were barred from summits in 2021 for not de-escalating conflict in the wake of the military coup that brought them to power.
ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus
Following a 2021 military coup, ASEAN has excluded…
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