On the contrary, the move can be seen as affirmation that ASEAN needs to improve its foundational mechanisms so that regional peace and stability cannot be thwarted by belligerent actors claiming legitimacy where there is none.

It is in the interest of other ASEAN member states that the junta’s blatant disregard of cooperation does not become a modus operandi that is tolerated, let alone encouraged.

ASEAN has worked too hard and too long to allow anyone to justify the use of violence and force in this day and age.

The people of Myanmar, like the rest of ASEAN, have already tasted the fruits of freedom, commerce, human rights and rule of law. There should be no place for sore losers in an election to take power away from the people.

Commerce builds trust and trust leads to the expansion of relations – something that ASEAN has provided to its member states for nearly 55 years. The community building project that launched in 2015, which could come to define the Asian Century if we continue to pursue it, should not be forfeit by the egotism of a few individuals.

The “principles and practice of equal representation in ASEAN” cannot and should not be uttered by those who seize power using violence.

The coup-makers should understand that the people of Myanmar see no promise of a bright future under their patronage. Nor will any country see Myanmar under junta rule as worth investing in.

So, after a year of failing to rein in the junta since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup d’etat, it is high time that ASEAN takes decisive steps to ensure that this parasitic regime no longer takes advantage of membership to the bloc.

With this in mind, we believe it is worth supporting any initiative that seeks to bolster ASEAN’s foundations and repair loopholes that can be exploited for personal gain.

Indonesia’s proposal to commence talks about the ASEAN Vision beyond 2025 is thus a timely and welcome initiative, which can be hashed out in earnest when the de facto leader of ASEAN takes over chairmanship duties in 2023.

With regard to the junta, the suspension of Myanmar’s ASEAN membership could prove useful to limit the access that the military regime has to regional resources, in the absence of any power by ASEAN to impose sanctions.

The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), in particular, is well placed to define how professional armed forces from the region should behave.

In the meantime, ASEAN member states should also seek out avenues of dialogue outside of the regional framework, including, but not limited to, persuading other partners or countries with influence in the region to back ASEAN-led efforts with more concrete and coordinated responses.

In the end, perhaps it is for the best that Myanmar is not involved in closed-door candid talks with other ASEAN top diplomats; they might just need to get used to having fewer people to deal with.