Southeast Asian leaders convened in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday for the annual ASEAN summit, with a focus on the ongoing civil war in Myanmar and rising tensions in the South China Sea, two longstanding challenges testing the bloc's credibility.
The summit will be followed by discussions with global powers, including China, the US, and Russia, who are competing for influence in the region. The timing of these meetings also raises the likelihood of addressing the escalating violence in the Middle East, although Southeast Asia has largely experienced indirect consequences.
ASEAN, often limited in its influence among its own members, has traditionally provided a platform for superpowers to engage with the region. The 10 member states—Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos—will also meet with dialogue partners from countries such as Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia. Discussions will span issues like the economy, climate change, and energy.
In his opening speech, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone welcomed new leaders from Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam, emphasizing the need for collaboration amid geopolitical and economic challenges. “We help one another, and work together the ASEAN way,” he said, reaffirming the bloc's unity.
The South China Sea dispute remains a major agenda item, especially given China's assertiveness in the region. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing in for President Joe Biden, is expected to address rising tensions, while Chinese Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the summit. Four ASEAN members—Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei—have overlapping claims with China in the South China Sea, with ongoing clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels.
ASEAN’s credibility is also under scrutiny due to the Myanmar crisis, where over 6,000 people have been killed and more than 3 million displaced since the 2021 military coup. While Myanmar's junta agreed to an ASEAN peace plan, it has failed to implement it. Thailand plans to host an informal regional consultation on Myanmar in December, although the representation from Myanmar remains uncertain.
Myanmar's presence at the summit, through Foreign Ministry official Aung Kyaw Moe, marks its first high-level attendance since ASEAN barred political representatives in 2021. However, experts warn that this could be seen as a compromise, signaling ASEAN's fatigue in dealing with the crisis, with chances of a significant breakthrough remaining slim.