KUALA LUMPUR – In a renewed attempt to revive its faltering peace initiative, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will convene two high-level meetings next week focused exclusively on the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. This move comes ahead of ASEAN’s upcoming leaders’ summit and highlights the bloc’s urgency to find a path forward after years of stalled diplomacy and escalating violence.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn confirmed on May 21 that both meetings will take place in Malaysia and will center solely on the Myanmar crisis – a departure from past summits where the issue was one of many on the agenda. “This is something new that will specifically focus on Myanmar; they will take no other issue,” he said in an interview with Reuters.

Myanmar’s Crisis Deepens

Since the military coup in February 2021 that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has spiraled into chaos. What began as political unrest has erupted into a full-blown civil war, with ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy resistance forces battling the ruling junta. The conflict has displaced more than 3.5 million people, making it one of the most pressing humanitarian and political crises in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN’s own peace framework—the Five-Point Consensus introduced in 2021—has made virtually no headway. The plan calls for an end to violence, constructive dialogue, humanitarian aid, and the appointment of a special envoy. However, the junta’s continued military offensives and refusal to engage in genuine negotiations have led ASEAN to exclude Myanmar’s generals from high-level meetings in protest.

A New Diplomatic Effort

The first of the two upcoming meetings will include Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, along with Laos and the Philippines, which held or will hold the chairmanship. The second meeting will involve the bloc’s foreign ministers. While Dr. Kao did not disclose specific topics or new proposals under discussion, the exclusive focus on Myanmar signals a stronger commitment to diplomacy and conflict resolution.

This initiative follows mounting international criticism of ASEAN’s limited effectiveness in dealing with Myanmar and reflects growing pressure within the region to reassert leadership in resolving the crisis.

International Spotlight

Global media coverage has intensified in recent months, with increased scrutiny on human rights abuses, targeted airstrikes on civilian areas, and deteriorating living conditions in Myanmar. The United Nations and Western governments have repeatedly called on ASEAN to play a more assertive role, while China and India continue to engage with the junta bilaterally, adding complexity to regional diplomacy.

Will the meetings bring any results ?

With Myanmar’s crisis showing no signs of abating and the Five-Point Consensus at a virtual standstill, ASEAN’s decision to dedicate two high-level meetings exclusively to the issue marks a critical pivot. Whether these talks can lead to a tangible shift in strategy remains to be seen, but they represent a rare moment of united regional focus on one of Southeast Asia’s most intractable conflicts. (zai)