By Reuters – published by CNA and Amarin TV
MANILA: Southeast Asian leaders reaffirmed the need to keep engaging with Myanmar while sticking with a plan calling for an immediate end to violence in the war-torn country while Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul underscored determination to open a new chapter in relationship with Cambodia, expressing hope that Cambodia would respond with a similar spirit.
Addressing the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, Anutin expressed gratitude to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for hosting the trilateral discussions in Cebu. He reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to the “Cebu Spirit”—a commitment to restoring trust and confidence through good-faith dialogue.
Thailand remains dedicated to implementing confidence-building measures to pave the way for the restoration of peace and stability.
“The challenges currently facing Asean only underscore the importance of maintaining regional unity amidst an increasingly uncertain global landscape. It is essential for Asean member states to work together to overcome differences—in line with the ‘Asean Way’—and to collectively safeguard the region’s shared interests.
“Thailand is ready to work with all Asean member states to achieve this goal,” the Thai Prime Minister told the Asean summit.
Chairing Asean’s annual summit, Marcos said the 11-member bloc agreed to pursue “constructive and principled engagement” while adhering to its five-point peace plan, Asean’s framework for responding to the crisis in Myanmar since a 2021 coup.
The summit is under pressure to ease a five-year ban on Myanmar’s military-backed leaders attending high-level meetings, after Thailand and several other members stepped up engagement despite Myanmar’s civil war.
The army-backed government wants to normalise ties with Asean after its leaders were barred from summits in 2021 for not de-escalating conflict in the wake of the military coup that brought them to power.
ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus
Following a 2021 military coup, Asean has excluded Myanmar from high-level meetings as it has yet to make meaningful progress on the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus to end hostilities.
During a meeting in April 2021, all Asean leaders reached a consensus about the situation in Myanmar.
The five points are:
First, there shall be immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint.
Second, constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.
Third, a special envoy of the Asean chair shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the secretary-general of Asean.
Fourth, Asean shall provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre.
Fifth, the special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, triggering the civil war that the UN estimates has killed 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million.
Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing’s military has received support from China, India and Russia. His administration has gained increasing international recognition in recent months, including secret talks with US officials as the Trump administration reverses years of isolation.
Marcos, expressing hope that Asean could advance the implementation of the peace plan, said leaders should ask “what more can we do for Myanmar” as the crisis continued to displace families, disrupt communities and affect the country’s youth.
In addition to seeking an end to the fighting, Asean’s Myanmar framework calls for constructive dialogue among all parties and offers the bloc’s mediation and humanitarian assistance.
Asean’s special envoy on Myanmar, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, said on Saturday there would be “no easing” of Asean’s approach toward Myanmar, although a review of the five-point plan and various proposals concerning Myanmar’s participation remained under discussion and would ultimately be decided by leaders.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Asean leaders at the summit in Manila, the Philippines, today, Nov. 15, 2026. Photos – Amarin TV
Insert: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his wife Ms. Thananon Charnvirakul with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.
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