(Manila, 12th) — ASEAN foreign ministers will meet face-to-face with Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe in Bangkok this weekend for the first time in five years, to discuss Myanmar’s civil war and the issue of Myanmar re-engaging with ASEAN after being suspended from attending meetings for five years.
As the current ASEAN chair, the Philippines will preside over the meeting on Sunday (July 12th) in Bangkok. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday (the 10th) that Myanmar remains an inseparable member of ASEAN, and the meeting is informal, allowing the Myanmar foreign minister an opportunity to brief counterparts on the situation in Myanmar.
The statement said: “Both sides are expected to exchange views on ASEAN’s engagement with Myanmar and discuss what concrete steps Myanmar can take in response to ASEAN’s concerns over ending violence, promoting constructive dialogue among all parties, and providing humanitarian assistance.”
Han Win Aung, Director General for ASEAN Affairs at Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, said that this meeting is “a highly constructive step” toward restoring Myanmar’s relationship with ASEAN. “I believe that in the near future, we will restore our original status and rights in ASEAN.”
Thai Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Malati revealed that Thailand is hosting this meeting to strengthen ASEAN’s collective efforts to implement the “Five-Point Consensus” and support Myanmar in achieving peace and stability.
She noted: “These meetings are an important step in ASEAN’s principled and incremental engagement with Myanmar, aiming to promote positive and concrete progress in Myanmar… These meetings are informal consultations and will not alter ASEAN’s established stance or decisions regarding the Myanmar situation.”
Analysts point out that although this meeting is informal, its ultimate goal is to have Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing appear alongside ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN summit in Manila this November.
In recent weeks, Min Aung Hlaing has been received with high-level hospitality by India, Laos, and China. In contrast, the influence of Myanmar’s pro-democracy camp on the international stage is continuously declining.
With China’s mediation, Myanmar’s military has reached ceasefire agreements with several ethnic regional armed groups, causing the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), which have lost allies and are comparatively weaker, to suffer successive defeats.
Analysts believe this is extremely unfavorable to anti-government forces. Michael, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, predicts that without support from ethnic armed groups, the loosely organized People’s Defense Forces will either agree to ceasefire, abandon the cause of democracy and devolve into “local warlords,” or be “completely wiped out.”
The statement said: “Both sides are expected to exchange views on ASEAN’s engagement with Myanmar and discuss what concrete steps Myanmar can take in response to ASEAN’s concerns over ending violence, promoting constructive dialogue among all parties, and providing humanitarian assistance.”
Han Win Aung, Director General for ASEAN Affairs at Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, said that this meeting is “a highly constructive step” toward restoring Myanmar’s relationship with ASEAN. “I believe that in the near future, we will restore our original status and rights in ASEAN.”
Thai Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Malati revealed that Thailand is hosting this meeting to strengthen ASEAN’s collective efforts to implement the “Five-Point Consensus” and support Myanmar in achieving peace and stability.
She noted: “These meetings are an important step in ASEAN’s principled and incremental engagement with Myanmar, aiming to promote positive and concrete progress in Myanmar… These meetings are informal consultations and will not alter ASEAN’s established stance or decisions regarding the Myanmar situation.”
Analysts point out that although this meeting is informal, its ultimate goal is to have Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing appear alongside ASEAN leaders at the ASEAN summit in Manila this November.
In recent weeks, Min Aung Hlaing has been received with high-level hospitality by India, Laos, and China. In contrast, the influence of Myanmar’s pro-democracy camp on the international stage is continuously declining.
With China’s mediation, Myanmar’s military has reached ceasefire agreements with several ethnic regional armed groups, causing the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), which have lost allies and are comparatively weaker, to suffer successive defeats.
Analysts believe this is extremely unfavorable to anti-government forces. Michael, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, predicts that without support from ethnic armed groups, the loosely organized People’s Defense Forces will either agree to ceasefire, abandon the cause of democracy and devolve into “local warlords,” or be “completely wiped out.”