Singapore's Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, has called on ASEAN's key partners, including the United States and China, to assist in finding the best solution for Myanmar as ASEAN continues its efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Speaking to the media on Saturday after attending the ASEAN summits and concluding an official visit to Vientiane, Laos, PM Wong emphasized the need for international cooperation. Myanmar has been embroiled in conflict for over three years since the military coup in 2021, with ongoing clashes between the junta and resistance forces and millions of people displaced.
Discussions at the summit largely centered on two regional challenges: the disputed South China Sea and the crisis in Myanmar. The crisis in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in civil war since the military takeover, was a significant concern for ASEAN leaders during their high-level meetings this week.
Although ASEAN adopted a five-point consensus aimed at resolving the Myanmar crisis, which includes ending violence and initiating dialogue among all parties, little progress has been made so far.
“ASEAN will do its best, but we have to be realistic that some things take time, and for this particular issue in Myanmar, it is really an issue for Myanmar to resolve,” PM Wong stated, highlighting the complexity of resolving the prolonged crisis.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that ASEAN will not give up or remain inactive. “We should continue to support efforts at constructive dialogue, engagement, and peaceful resolution, and that is what Asean is doing,” he reiterated, once again calling for assistance from partners like the U.S. and China to help find the best way forward for Myanmar.
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