Singapore's Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, highlighted ASEAN's ongoing difficulties in resolving the Myanmar crisis during a parliamentary session on Tuesday (November 21). He noted that Myanmar's military authorities have failed to show significant progress in adhering to the Five-Point Consensus, an agreement aimed at restoring peace in the country.

Dr. Ng described Myanmar's lack of cooperation as ‘errant behavior’ and stressed the urgent need for the bloc to address the crisis effectively. He pointed out that ASEAN has limited options to influence Myanmar's internal affairs, as the group's principle of non-interference complicates deeper intervention.

Despite these challenges, ASEAN leaders have remained committed to maintaining unity within the bloc while seeking diplomatic solutions. Dr. Ng reaffirmed Singapore’s support for ongoing efforts to engage all stakeholders in Myanmar, including opposition groups, to encourage dialogue and peaceful resolution.

"He (Dr Ng) urged Myanmar 'not to use ASEAN for its own politics of retaliation (and) not to put the ADMM in a difficult position for its own purposes'," MINDEF added.

The Myanmar conflict is erupted after the military coup in 2021, has led to widespread violence and instability, creating a significant humanitarian crisis and testing ASEAN's ability to mediate regional conflicts.
 

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