SINGAPORE: Singapore’s defence minister says Myanmar’s actions could weaken a key principle that underpins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ).
” Myanmar’s behaviour risks undermining the ASEAN Centrality that we have painstakingly built over the past two decades ( of defence cooperation )”, said Dr Ng Eng Hen, according to a news release from Singapore’s defence ministry ( MINDEF ) on Wednesday ( Nov 20 ).
Speaking , at the 18th ASEAN Defence Ministers ‘ Meeting ( ADMM) in Laos, Dr Ng added the ADMM, the regional bloc’s highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism, could “lose credibility” as a result.
Since February 2021, Myanmar has experienced upheaval, with the junta struggling to maintain its hold on power as its military seized power and removed a democratically elected government.
The phrase” ASEAN importance” refers to the idea that ASEAN should continue to play a major part in regional cooperation and politics. The gathering has ten people, including Myanmar.
Dr Ng ‘s , comments were in reaction to what MINDEF said were issues that came to a standstill because of Myanmar’s objection. The department did not go into specifics about these concerns.
According to Dr. Ng, Myanmar’s behavior conflicts with the ASEAN Leaders ‘ Review and Decision on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, which stated that the issue in Myanmar should not have an impact on ASEAN decision-making.
The junta mostly ignores the Five-Point Consensus, a peace program agreed upon by the 10-member union in order to stop the issue.
He ( Dr. Ng ) urged Myanmar to avoid using ASEAN for its own political retaliation and to avoid placing the ADMM in a difficult position for its own goals, MINDEF continued.
Dr. Ng urged the other officials to “work along to maintain its centrality in the passions of the ADMM.” The ADMM even agreed to keep the discussions going the following month.
Since the defense revolt, more than 5, 000 residents have been killed and over 3.3 million displaced, according to a United Nations report in September this year.