Top diplomats from Southeast Asia gathered in Vientiane, Laos, for the final day of regional talks focusing on tensions in the South China Sea, escalating conflict in Myanmar, and regional relations. The meeting on Saturday brought together allies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) such as the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India, and Australia to strengthen ties and discuss crucial security and regional issues.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Vientiane to meet with ASEAN foreign ministers and is expected to hold discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on expanding influence in the region. The Laos Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of regional integration and economic resilience in the ASEAN Plus Three cooperation framework involving China, Japan, and South Korea.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa emphasized the broadening scope of cooperation among partners, focusing not only on financial matters but also on stability, peace, and security. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also participated in the meetings, holding talks with Wang earlier in the week.
Discussions touched on economic cooperation, the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN members like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei contest China’s claims in the South China Sea, a critical shipping route. The U.S. and its allies have conducted military exercises in the area to uphold a “free and open Indo-Pacific” policy.
Differences within ASEAN over handling China’s maritime claims were evident, with the Philippines expressing concerns but reaching a rare agreement with China to ease tensions and avoid escalations. The situation in Myanmar, torn by a violent civil war following the military coup in February 2021, was also a prominent topic during the talks.
ASEAN has recommended a “five-point consensus” for peace in Myanmar, including a halt to violence, dialogue among all involved parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian aid delivery, and a visit by the special envoy to Myanmar. However, the military leaders in Myanmar have yet to comply with the plan, raising doubts about ASEAN’s effectiveness in resolving the crisis in the country.
