Myanmar crisis among key issues for Blinken at ASEAN
The United States called on the military regime in Myanmar to ‘cease the violence, allow unhindered humanitarian access, release all those unjustly detained, and restore Myanmar’s path to inclusive democracy,’ with that crisis expected to be among the key topics the US will discuss at the meeting of the Association of South East Nations (‘ASEAN’) in Jakarta.
Secretary of State Blinken will be discussing the crisis in Myanmar with leaders at the four-day meeting that closes on 14 July. Blinken will also meet Wang Yi, a senior diplomat of China, the Myanmar military junta’s top foreign backer.
US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel J. Kritenbrink told reporters ahead of Blinken’s visit that ‘Myanmar will be, I think, one of the key issues discussed at the ASEAN-related meetings.’
‘We continue to support the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, we support ASEAN leadership on this issue,’ he said, ‘But we’ll also continue to make clear the depth and the strength of America’s concern as well.’
ASEAN remains largely divided over action on Myanmar. Its five-point plan, calling for an immediate end to violence, peace talks between the military regime and its opponents, and the delivery of humanitarian aid, has been largely ignored by Myanmar since it was agreed two years ago. Instead, the junta unleashed a crackdown that included aerial attacks that have killed more than 3,600 civilians, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and other infrastructure, and displaced nearly 1.5 million people.
Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s Defense Ministry and two banks that it alleged ‘facilitate much of the foreign currency exchange within Burma and enable transactions between the military regime and foreign markets, including for the purchase and import of arms and related materiel.’
The European Union, United Kingdom and Australia have also imposed sanctions on the country since the military coup in 2021.
https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-asean-relationship-2/
