In a candid discussion at a forum in Hawaii, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos expressed the challenges faced by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in addressing the ongoing conflict in military-ruled Myanmar. Despite a commitment from ASEAN, President Marcos cited the complexity of the issue, including its profound humanitarian impact.
The United Nations reports that over a million people have been displaced since Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, disrupting a decade of tentative democracy and plunging the nation into conflict and economic turmoil. President Marcos underscored the urgency for ASEAN to resolve the crisis but acknowledged the formidable nature of the problem.
“There is a great deal of impetus for ASEAN to solve this problem. But it is a very, very difficult problem,” remarked President Marcos during the live-streamed forum.
The military junta’s post-coup crackdown on dissent sparked a resilient resistance movement that has been gaining momentum. In response, ASEAN took a firm stance by barring top generals from attending its meetings until they commit to the bloc’s two-year-old peace roadmap. The Philippines is set to chair ASEAN in 2026 after replacing Myanmar as the host for that year.
Recent weeks have seen tens of thousands more people displaced as the military contends with a coordinated offensive by an alliance of three ethnic-minority groups and pro-democracy fighters. President Marcos, referring to recent analyses, suggested that the junta had lost support even within its own military ranks.
Highlighting the humanitarian toll, President Marcos emphasized that the cost of the conflict has “grown exponentially” in recent years. Notably, the Philippines has felt the impact, with its citizens becoming victims of human trafficking in the region.
As the ASEAN bloc grapples with finding a resolution to the Myanmar crisis, the international community watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough in the face of escalating conflict and a burgeoning humanitarian catastrophe. President Marcos’ insights shed light on the intricacies of the issue, emphasizing the need for collaborative and decisive action to bring stability to the troubled region.
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