Cebu (Philippines), Jan 28: Southeast Asia’s top diplomats convened Wednesday under mounting pressure to push for peace in Myanmar and finalize a South China Sea code of conduct with China.
ASEAN, an 11-nation bloc, has long struggled to demonstrate unity, most recently during deadly fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in 2025, which ended with a US-backed ceasefire.
Myanmar remains a major challenge for the bloc: its military government is unrecognized, leaders are barred from ASEAN meetings, and the 2021 five-point peace plan has so far failed to end the civil war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar, briefed ministers on her recent meetings with military officials and opposition groups, focusing on enforcing the peace plan, advancing de-escalation, facilitating humanitarian aid, tackling transnational crime, and promoting political dialogue.
At the same time, ASEAN seeks to conclude decades-long negotiations with China on a South China Sea code of conduct by 2026.
Analysts caution that fundamental disagreements over legal bindingness and international law interpretations make reaching an agreement difficult, even with strong political will, as the disputed waters remain a potential flashpoint with broader regional security implications. (AP)
