ASEAN keeps Myanmar restrictions but opens path to political return
In a notable step, the bloc also appeared to endorse bilateral outreach to Myanmar among its member countries.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (centre) and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos (right) pose for a photo with Myanmar Director-General of the ASEAN Affairs Department Han Win Aung during the 49th ASEAN Summit on Nov 15, 2026, in Manila, Philippines. (Photo: Reuters)
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
MANILA: Southeast Asian leaders said on Sunday (Nov 15) they may consider gradually restoring Myanmar’s full political representation in the regional bloc, if the country makes progress on their longstanding plan to resolve its five-year-old crisis.
Leaders of the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed at a summit in Manila to maintain their policy of excluding Myanmar from full political representation at ASEAN summits and foreign ministers’ meetings for now.
But they said they had agreed to pursue a “calibrated engagement” through a “phased and progress-based” approach, if Myanmar makes “sustained and concrete” progress on the bloc’s proposed plan, known as the five-point consensus, or 5PC.
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.
Collapse
Expand
And in a notable step, the bloc also appeared to endorse bilateral outreach to Myanmar among its member countries.
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Thailand and several other ASEAN members have stepped up engagement with Myanmar in recent months, creating new pressure on the bloc to ease its ban on Myanmar’s military-backed leaders attending its high-level meetings.
“Subject to sustained and concrete progress in the implementation of the 5PC by Myanmar, ASEAN may consider the gradual restoration of Myanmar’s full political representation,” the leaders said in a joint decision adopted at the summit.
“We also encourage efforts by individual ASEAN Member States through constructive engagement with all relevant stakeholders, in consultation with the ASEAN Chair, to advance substantive progress in the implementation of the 5PC,” they said.
ASEAN’s five-point consensus, adopted soon after the military seized power in Myanmar in 2021, calls for an immediate end to violence there and for the launch of constructive dialogue among all parties. It offers ASEAN mediation and humanitarian assistance.
Myanmar’s army-backed government wants to normalise ties with ASEAN. The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, triggering a civil war that the UN estimates has killed 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million.
Coup leader-turned-president 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 President Donald Trump’s administration reverses years of isolation.
Source: Reuters/ec/dy
Sign up for our newsletters
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
