Wars, Myanmar crisis, maritime conflicts overshadow ASEAN summit
Metro Manila, Philippines— Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders began their meetings in Laos on Wednesday, Oct. 9, overshadowed by wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, a crisis in one of the group’s members, and maritime conflicts.
The annual summit gathers the 10 ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners, including global powers the United States, China, and Russia, in hopes of promoting economic and security cooperation.
"We help each other, and cooperate with each other, with an ASEAN way and principles,” Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said in his opening statement.
He said each ASEAN member has its own ways of tackling challenges confronting the region.
Siphandone and his wife Vandara welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other heads of state in the opening ceremony.
In his pre-departure speech, Marcos said the Philippines will push a rules-based resolution to disputes, including those in the West Philippine Sea.
He noted the need for peaceful dialogue amid escalating tensions in the region, particularly the recent dangerous maneuvers by Chinese forces at sea.
“As we continue to grapple with sharpening regional tensions, including the recent dangerous incidents in the West Philippine Sea, I intend to champion our advocacies in promoting an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order, and for the peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law,” Marcos said.
Marcos added that discussions would likely include the multifaceted crisis in Myanmar and the Ukraine-Russia war as these impact the region's security and stability.
South China Sea issue
The South China Sea is a strategic body of water bordering Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China.
As one of the busiest trade routes in the world and home to a wealth of marine and mineral resources, the South China Sea holds great economic and geostrategic importance.
Last year, foreign ministers of Southeast Asia's regional bloc expressed their concern over growing tensions in the South China Sea which they said could threaten regional peace and urged for peaceful dialogue among parties.
"We closely follow with concern the recent developments in the South China Sea that may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,” ASEAN added in its statement.
Without naming China and the Philippines, the ASEAN foreign ministers called on parties to exercise self-restraint to avoid miscalculations that would escalate disputes.
"We reiterate the importance of peaceful dialogue that contributes constructively to the promotion of regional stability and cooperation in the maritime domain,” the regional bloc added.
