The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit, attended by leaders and representatives from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), kicked off on Wednesday in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
According to Yonhap News, this summit will continue until this Friday and will focus on key regional issues, including the ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar. Notably, this marks the first time in over three years that Myanmar’s junta leader has participated in the summit.
Aung Kyaw Moe, the Permanent Secretary of Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented the junta at the summit. His presence marks the first time a junta official has attended the ASEAN gathering since April 2021, shortly after Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup.
Meanwhile, the regime has recently indicated plans to hold future elections, beginning with a population survey to compile a voter list.
Ahead of the U.S.-ASEAN summit on Thursday, U.S. Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink stated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would push the Myanmar military to curb violence, release political prisoners and engage in talks with pro-democracy forces.
Also on the summit’s agenda is the increasingly volatile issue of territorial sovereignty in the South China Sea. Leaders from countries involved in the dispute, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., are expected to address the matter directly. China, which has ongoing territorial conflicts with the Philippines, Vietnam, and other ASEAN members, will be represented by Premier Li Qiang. Li is scheduled to attend the ASEAN, China-ASEAN, and ASEAN+3 summit with South Korea, China, and Japan, where he will likely outline China’s position on regional disputes.
Blinken, attending the summit on behalf of President Joe Biden, is also expected to emphasize the need for compliance with international law in the South China Sea and will likely confront China on this front. He is further anticipated to bring up broader geopolitical issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
After attending the ASEAN, ASEAN+3, and East Asia Summits (EAS), South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a separate bilateral summit with leaders from four to five countries, including Vietnam and Thailand.
During this trip, Yoon is expected to hold his first meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba.
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