ASEAN foreign ministers have given the green light to a virtual engagement with Myanmar's top diplomat, the association's secretary-general said during an interview at the bloc's summit in the Philippines, marking a step toward re-engagement after five years of isolation.
Kao Kim Hourn told reporters that Myanmar had signalled a desire to normalise relations with the 11-member grouping, but that its neighbours wanted to see concrete movement on several conditions before deeper reintegration could occur. Among those priorities, he said, are de-escalation of violence, the resumption of inclusive dialogue and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.
"It’s very clear that today the ASEAN foreign ministers agree that there will be an engagement with Myanmar, with the foreign minister of Myanmar, that they will have a virtual meeting coming up in the very near future," Kao Kim Hourn said.
Myanmar has been sidelined from senior ASEAN gatherings since a military takeover in 2021. The coup precipitated a harsh crackdown on dissent and has been followed by sustained internal conflict. The military is widely accused of committing atrocities against civilians, including conducting air strikes during its efforts to suppress an armed rebellion; the military denies these allegations.
Last month, the country installed a new administration that is nominally civilian in form. That government followed an election dominated by a pro-military party held in the absence of viable opposition, with coup leader and former junta head Min Aung Hlaing assuming the presidency. ASEAN has not recognised that electoral outcome or set conditions under which he could participate in the bloc's summits.
The decision to open talks with Myanmar's foreign minister follows a proposal put forward by Thailand's foreign minister earlier in the week, who said he would seek to build consensus among ASEAN members for a more engaged approach. Kao Kim Hourn also indicated discussions were underway about appointing a special envoy to handle Myanmar-related matters on a mandate extending beyond one year, though he cautioned that "adverse issues" remain and did not provide further details.
Beyond Myanmar, Kao Kim Hourn highlighted forward movement in negotiations over a long-anticipated code of conduct between ASEAN and China governing behaviour in the South China Sea. He said there is momentum and that the bloc remains committed to completing the code within the year.
The code of conduct concept dates back to 2002 but has delivered limited results to date as competing priorities have complicated talks. Key questions in negotiations include whether the agreement should contain an enforcement mechanism and whether it should be explicitly linked to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. China asserts claims over much of the South China Sea, including areas that overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several ASEAN member states.
"I think there is real progress in negotiations," Kao Kim Hourn said. "We are able to reach more consensus on key issues. Now you see very concretely these developments," he added, signalling clearer alignment among negotiators on matters that had previously stalled.
Summary of developments:
- ASEAN foreign ministers have agreed to a near-term virtual meeting with Myanmar's foreign minister.
- ASEAN members expect visible steps on de-escalation, dialogue, and humanitarian access before full reintegration.
- Negotiations on an ASEAN-China code of conduct for the South China Sea are reportedly progressing, with a target to finalise the agreement this year.