ASEAN eyes full Myanmar representation, gradual junta engagement

MANILA, Nov 15: Southeast Asian leaders agreed on Sunday to pursue a "calibrated engagement" with Myanmar's military-backed government, opening the door to the possible gradual restoration of the country's full political representation in the regional bloc if it makes concrete progress towards resolving its ongoing crisis.

The decision was announced in a joint statement following the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila. Leaders agreed to maintain the existing restrictions on Myanmar's participation in high-level ASEAN summits and foreign ministers' meetings for now, while adopting a phased and progress-based approach to engagement.

"Subject to sustained and concrete progress in the implementation of the 5PC by Myanmar, ASEAN may consider the gradual restoration of Myanmar's full political representation," the statement said, referring to the bloc's five-point consensus.

ASEAN also encouraged individual member states to pursue constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders in Myanmar, in consultation with the bloc's rotating chair, to advance the implementation of the peace plan.

Myanmar has remained excluded from high-level ASEAN meetings since its military seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover triggered a civil war involving the military, pro-democracy resistance groups and ethnic minority armed organisations.
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