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Author: Associate Professor Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, Department of International and Strategic Studies. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya.
The 2022 ASEAN Summit will be held from 10 November to 13 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The ASEAN Summit is the highest decision-making body in ASEAN, consisting of the heads of government of ASEAN members. As usual, the ASEAN Summit Meeting is held twice a year at a time to be determined by the Chairman of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN member countries. ASEAN member countries that assume the position of ASEAN Chairman will be responsible for hosting the ASEAN Summit. Therefore, as ASEAN Chairman, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will be the host.
Malaysia, as one of the founding members of ASEAN in 1967, continues to be committed to the spirit of regionalism and strives to foster regional cooperation in line with ASEAN's 55th-anniversary theme of Stronger Together and the host Cambodia's theme of Addressing Challenges Together. Malaysia's primary consideration at the ASEAN Summit this time can be divided into two. First, issues involving the intra-region of Southeast Asia, such as Myanmar, the Indo-Pacific, and especially the South China Sea. In addition, cooperation in economic recovery efforts post-pandemic COVID-19, as well as the transmission of new variant viruses faced by all ASEAN members. It is important to emphasise that the Summit in November is a follow-up to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference. The issues highlighted by Malaysia during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in August 2022 include sustainability and climate change, public health cooperation, digital economy and transformation. The second item is global issues such as the War in Ukraine and the rivalry between China and the US.
Malaysia's hope is consistent that ASEAN continues to be a forum for member countries to dialogue and try to peacefully overcome challenges within and outside the region in accordance with the principles supported by the ASEAN Charter and the UN. Therefore, Malaysia hopes that the ASEAN Summit this time will be able to identify forms of cooperation between member countries to overcome the problems being faced by the public, such as climate change, health problems, transnational crime, poverty and unemployment. This is one of the essential and non-political matters that ASEAN can deal with more effectively than security issues involving sovereignty, such as the South China Sea. So it is appropriate for ASEAN to focus on issues and problems related to daily life in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since the early 1970s, Malaysia has adopted a policy of neutrality in its foreign relations, and as a trading country, Malaysia welcomes ASEAN cooperation with the US and China. However, there is no denying that there are challenges in Malaysia's relationship with China and the US, especially in the issue of overlapping claims in the South China Sea. However, this issue should not be an obstacle to a friendship that has existed for so long. Malaysia has consistently defended its sovereignty while at the same time sticking to the principles of peace and dialogue to resolve international disputes. At the same time, Malaysia has insisted that there is no need for other major powers such as the US, UK, and France to 'help' resolve the issue of overlapping claims in the South China Sea, especially the presence of warships in the region.
This policy is in line with ASEAN's stance on the division of major powers, which is clear that it does not favour any party or a policy of neutrality. ASEAN has been consistent with the approach of neutrality since 1971 with the declaration of the concept of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) and further strengthened with the concept of the Southeast Asian region as a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone and free from all weapons of mass destruction as stipulated in the Treaty on Weapons Free Zones Southeast Asia Nuclear (SEANWFZ Agreement) and the ASEAN Charter. ASEAN wants to be independent of thinking that tends towards 'Cold War 2.0'.
In addition to the issue of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the Southeast Asian region, it is expected to arise during the ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN countries visited by Pelosi include Singapore and Malaysia. These two countries welcomed Pelosi on the principle of neutrality, considering that the US is still the largest economy in the world and has economic interests in the Southeast Asian region. For example, US electronics companies such as Intel and Motorola have investments in Malaysia. Pelosi's visit can be described as a continuation of the ASEAN leaders' visit to Washington, DC, on 12-13 May 2022. This is part of the political planning of the administration of President Joe Biden to strengthen relations with Southeast Asia that have been strained during the administration of President Donald Trump. However, ASEAN countries such as Malaysia can balance relations with both superpowers. For example, Malaysia also welcomes the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi in July 2022.
One of the main issues that will get attention during the 2022 ASEAN Summit is the future of Myanmar in ASEAN. More than a year ago, on 1 February 2021, Myanmar was hit by a crisis when the Myanmar military or Tatmadaw seized power from the civilian government and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who had won a significant victory during the general election in November. 2020. The situation in Myanmar has become a concern of ASEAN leaders. Therefore, the ASEAN leaders, including Myanmar military leader General Min Aung Hiang met in April 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and agreed on the Five-Point Consensus.
However, after more than a year (19 months), Myanmar's political situation and cases of human rights violations have become increasingly worrying. The death toll from military crackdowns is rising. Even in October 2022, civil leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi, who had won the election, were sentenced to 26 years in prison on corruption and fraud charges. The United Nations (UN), most European countries, and the United States (US) have condemned the arrests, trials and punishments as politically motivated. ASEAN foreign ministers have expressed disappointment and criticised the lack of progress in the plan to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. The international community is watching to what extent ASEAN can resolve the Myanmar crisis. Western countries have criticised even ASEAN for not being able to pressure Myanmar's military government.
ASEAN has also taken a firmer stance towards Myanmar, for the first time since the establishment of ASEAN more than five decades ago, by not inviting the Myanmar Army Commander General Min Aung Hiang not attend the ASEAN Conference and East Asia Conference 2021. In addition, ASEAN also banned Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, the military government appointed, from participating in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Conference scheduled for 16-17 February 2022 in Cambodia. ASEAN has called on the Myanmar government to send a non-political representative; however, Myanmar has rejected this request. Malaysia agrees and supports ASEAN's firm stance to preserve ASEAN's integrity from being ridiculed as if it is only able to speak but unable to act.
Disappointment is rising among some ASEAN members over the execution of activists. They consider Myanmar has ridiculed ASEAN. Malaysia's Foreign Minister Dato' Sri Saifuddin bin Abdullah has described the death penalty as a "crime against humanity", and the Myanmar military government has "made a mockery of the Five Point Consensus". He openly stated that he had contacted the Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG) ) which is a government in exile. Dato' Sri Saifuddin bin Abdullah is the first Foreign Minister among ASEAN members to meet with NUG representatives. His meeting with NUG representatives was held in New York when he attended the UN General Conference last September.
Myanmar's military government has accused ASEAN of violating its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states. However, the crisis in Myanmar is no longer an internal problem because its impact, such as refugees, is also felt by neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia. It should be emphasised that the problems in Myanmar are not just caused by the military coup but the treatment of ethnic minorities such as Rohingya, Karen, and Kachin and the ongoing ethnic conflict. Malaysia is very concerned about the situation in Myanmar because the crisis is limited to domestic problems but has spread to Malaysia.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers (ADMM) held a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 22 June 2022. It should be emphasised that ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN, and the ADMM-Plus is the highest platform for ministerial defence dialogue for the ASEAN Member States and the Plus Countries. Among the issues discussed are traditional and non-traditional security challenges faced in the post-pandemic era of COVID-19.
In addition, ADMM 2022 also insists that the order of the South China Sea continues to be maintained and in line with the implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the early conclusion of a practical and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) consistent with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In addition, ADMM Plus has recently held a conference for the first time to discuss Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR), which was held in Singapore from 11 to 12 October 2022 at the Shangri-La Hotel, gathering CBR experts from ADMM-Plus countries and international organisations to strengthen the region's capacity to address CBR threats from non-states.
Interestingly, when ADMM 2022 in Cambodia, Myanmar representative General Mya Tun Oo was present. Although pro-democracy groups have opposed his presence, it is essential because it is a link between ASEAN and Myanmar. The dialogue between ASEAN and the government of Myanmar should not only rest on the special envoy but include civil bodies and non-governmental organisations from member countries. Through this method, it is hoped to reduce the tension between ASEAN and the military government of Myanmar. There is no doubt that there is a deadlock in the Five-Point Consensus, but ASEAN should not give up but instead strengthen its humanitarian aid efforts, especially in the field of health and medicine, to help save more lives due to the political crisis and COVID-19. So this can strengthen the confidence between ASEAN and the military government and open the door for dialogue, primarily through ADMM.
（APD)
