Asean reaffirms engagement with Myanmar, seeks to advance peace plan

Southeast Asian leaders convened at the 49th Asean Summit in Manila, where Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced the bloc's commitment to maintaining engagement with Myanmar. The 11-member association agreed to uphold its five-point peace plan, aimed at halting violence in the war-torn nation following a 2021 military coup.

This comes as pressure mounts to lift a five-year ban on Myanmar's military-backed leaders attending high-level meetings, following Thailand and other members' increased engagement. The military-backed government seeks to normalize ties with Asean after being barred from summits in 2021 for not addressing the conflict. Myanmar has experienced turmoil since the military ousted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, sparking a civil war that has claimed 100,000 lives and displaced over 3.5 million people.

The coup leader-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing, has received support from China, India, and Russia, and his administration has gained recognition from international entities, including secret talks with US officials. Marcos expressed hope that Asean could advance the peace plan, emphasizing the need to address the crisis affecting families, communities, and Myanmar's youth.

The framework calls for constructive dialogue among all parties and offers Asean's mediation and humanitarian assistance. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro reaffirmed Asean's stance, stating there would be no relaxation of the approach toward Myanmar, while discussions on the five-point plan and Myanmar's participation continued under the bloc's leadership.