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ASEAN makes novel breakthrough in 55th AMM communiqué
The last day of the ASEAN ministerial meetings saw the usually noninterventionist bloc take a novel approach to resolving the Myanmar crisis, though soaring US-China tensions overshadowed the East Asia Summit meeting.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi takes part in a press conference on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting in Phnom Penh on Aug. 5, 2022. The EAS ministerial featured heated debate and several walkouts, according to regional sources with knowledge on the matter. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
T
he final day of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), which ran from Aug. 2 to 5, saw the bloc making bold, breakthrough decisions amid the highly volatile geopolitical developments in the region.
This was evident in the joint communiqué, issued on Friday, which contained calibrated warnings against Myanmar.
Previously, internal disagreements over ASEAN’s handling of the Myanmar coup crisis resulted in tense discussions and had heightened anticipation over its mention in the communiqué, which was promised. In its opening remarks on Wednesday, ASEAN chair Cambodia said the bloc would have to “rethink” its peace plans, or else be held “hostage” to the junta-led state’s defiance.
Observers have noted that the choice of words in the communiqué to address Myanmar’s military junta is a way of delegitimizing its leadership.
For example, the document’s 117th paragraph expresses “deep disappointment by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the Nay Piy Taw authorities to [the] timely and complete implementation of the Five-Point Consensus”.
The ASEAN foreign ministers also state: “Consistent with Article 20 of the ASEAN Charter, we recommended that the ASEAN Summit assess the progress towards the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus by the State Administration Council to guide the decision on the next steps.”
Article 20 refers to a decree that grants leaders of ASEAN states to decide for themselves what necessary actions they should take in cases where the bloc fails to reach a consensus.
