ASEAN's Challenges in South China Sea & Myanmar Conflict

A bridge for the Chinese high-speed rail is seen over the Mekong River, north of the Laotian city of Luang Prabang on Dec. 12, 2023. Laos has grown increasingly beholden to its giant neighbor to the n

As tensions escalate in the South China Sea and Myanmar plunges deeper into a civil war, hopes for progress in resolving these issues during Indonesia's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been largely unmet. Now, as Laos takes over as the rotating chair, many remain skeptical about the bloc's ability to effectively address these pressing challenges.

Indonesia, as ASEAN's largest country, had initially raised hopes that it could make significant strides in calming the South China Sea disputes and resolving the crisis in Myanmar. However, despite over 180 engagements with stakeholders in Myanmar, Indonesia was unable to achieve a breakthrough. The military leadership in Myanmar has ignored ASEAN's 'Five-Point Consensus' plan for peace, while the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with millions displaced due to escalating violence, as reported by the United Nations.