Patty Wu, Research Associate
Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center, CIER
Abstract
The 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and its associated meetings, held from July 25 to 27, 2024, in Vientiane, Laos, focused on strengthening regional connectivity and resilience amid growing geopolitical tensions. The meetings included key discussions among ASEAN members and external partners such as the United States, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, and India, covering major issues such as the ASEAN Community, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.
Key highlights from the meeting’s joint statements include reaffirming ASEAN’s commitment to a rules-based regional order, emphasizing the importance of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and advocating for peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the South China Sea and on the Korean Peninsula. The ASEAN Ministers also expressed continued support for Myanmar's peace process, although progress remains limited. Despite efforts to address the Myanmar crisis, ASEAN's internal divisions, particularly over how to engage with Myanmar's military regime, have hindered meaningful progress.
The brief provides a comprehensive overview of ASEAN’s stance on these key issues, highlighting both the challenges the organization faces in maintaining unity and its role as a mediator in regional tensions. The statements reflect a delicate balancing act between regional priorities and external influences, particularly as ASEAN continues to navigate the complexities of the South China Sea disputes and Myanmar’s political instability.
Comments