The US withdrawal from Kabul has been compared to its humiliating retreat from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, however after forty-six years relations have improved so much so that the US Vice President, Kamala Harris has paid a visit to the communist nation on 25th of August 2021.
People’s Liberation Army begins 3-days military drill in disputed waters that ends on Friday.
Western criticism of Cambodia ‘motivated’ to leverage kingdom against Beijing, says expert.
Japan calls for engagement with ‘pro-democracy groups’ in Myanmar
– Japan vows full support for ASEAN special envoy, says necessary for him to visit Myanmar without delay
By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ANKARA (AA) – Japan on Thursday urged the new special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to hold deliberations with “pro-democracy groups” in Myanmar.
The regional bloc appointed senior Brunei diplomat Erywan Yusof as its special envoy on Myanmar earlier this month, tasking him with overseeing humanitarian assistance and fostering dialogue between the military junta that grabbed power this February and its opponents.
In a phone call with Erywan, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi underlined the “necessity for the special envoy to visit Myanmar without delay and speak not only with the Myanmar military but also with pro-democracy groups.”
He also stressed “the importance of communication with the international community,” read a Foreign Ministry statement.
He assured Erywan that Japan will “fully support” the ASEAN special envoy’s activities on the Myanmar issue.
On the importance of humanitarian aid, Motegi said Japan has “taken the initiative ahead of other countries and provided over $20 million of humanitarian assistance.”
Erywan expressed appreciation for Japan’s actions and said he will “keep in mind Japan’s advice in carrying out his mission as the special envoy.”
The Myanmar military seized power on Feb. 1 by ousting the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy.
Top political leaders, including Suu Kyi, are among thousands of people detained and hundreds more have been killed as the junta has violently cracked down on anti-coup protests.
According to the latest update by Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group monitoring political violence in Southeast Asia, junta forces have killed at least 965 people since Feb. 1.
“A total of 5,550 persons are currently under detention. A total of 255 people have been sentenced in person, of them 26 have been sentenced to death, including two children,” read the report.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong participated in the 28th Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held at 20:00-24:00, August 6, in a virtual format. During the Meeting, the participants exchanged views on various security issues in the region, including those regarding the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar and the South China Sea.
VGP – On the occasion of ASEAN’s 54th founding anniversary (August 8th 1967 – August 8th 2021), Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son wrote an article titled “ASEAN’s 54 years: Fire tests gold”.
VGP – The 54th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and related meetings take place from 2-7 August 2021 via videoconference discussed ways to prepare for future challenges and opportunities as well as important regional and international issues of common concern.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a video conference series with ASEAN-related bureaucrats between 2-6 August 2021. The schedule of the meetings was quite crowded.
Director-General of Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the First Assistant Secretary, US & Indo-Pacific Strategy Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, led the Thai-Australian delegation discussing perspectives on the international strategic environment and development in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region in the 1st Indo-Pacific Strategic Dialogue between Thailand-Australia.
As recently attested by regional developments, ASEAN is still on a bumpy road along the US and China contestation. The current health crisis, such as COVID-19, also extrapolate the race between these big powers to acquire support from ASEAN for their respective agenda. This current plot has also triggered some arguments on “vaccine imperialism” rather than “vaccine diplomacy”.