ASEAN Summit Opens... Likely to Address 'Myanmar Civil War'

Opening on the 9th in Vientiane, the capital of Laos
Myanmar military regime representatives attend for the first time in 3 years

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, attended by the heads of state and representatives of the 10 member countries of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), opened on the 9th (local time) in Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

At this summit, which will continue until the 11th, measures to prevent the worsening of the civil war situation in Myanmar are expected to be discussed first, with representatives of the Myanmar military regime participating for the first time in three and a half years. The Myanmar military regime sent Aung Cho Moe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as its representative to the summit. This is the first time since April 2021, immediately after the Myanmar military coup, that representatives of the military regime have attended an ASEAN summit.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The South China Sea sovereignty issue is also expected to be a major agenda item at the meeting. In this regard, it is anticipated that the heads of state of the disputing parties, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, will discuss the matter. China, which disputes sovereignty over the South China Sea with ASEAN member countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam, is also expected to present its position through Premier Li Qiang, who will attend the ASEAN Summit, the China-ASEAN Summit, and the 'ASEAN+3' (South Korea, China, Japan) Summit on the 10th.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, attending the meeting on behalf of President Joe Biden, is also expected to confront China over issues related to compliance with international law in the South China Sea. Secretary Blinken plans to address geopolitical issues including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the concerning cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

President Yoon Suk-yeol will attend the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN+3 Summit on the 10th, and the East Asia Summit (EAS) on the 11th, and plans to hold separate bilateral meetings with the heads of state of four to five countries, including Vietnam and Thailand. Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that President Yoon is also scheduled to hold his first meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the summit.