Myanmar’s Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung, was excluded from Thursday’s India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers’ summit, indicating the bloc’s continued displeasure with the military junta’s 2021 coup and its subsequent brutal crackdown on civilian protestors and ethnic minorities. Instead, Myanmar was represented by its envoy to India, U Moe Kyaw Aung.
The two sides celebrated their 30-year friendship, with trade levels estimated at over $78 billion in 2021.
According to a statement released following the meeting, the summit focussed on promoting “peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.” Moreover, they also reiterated their commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other treaties and international convention, in an apparent reference to China, which has maritime disputes with a number of ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brunei.
They also celebrated their collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the mutual recognition of their vaccine certificates and data sharing on the pandemic. ASEAN appreciated India’s $1 million contributions to ASEAN’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Ministry of external affairs release on Special Asean India FMs meet: pic.twitter.com/io1pTW8VED
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 16, 2022
They agreed to expand cooperation on connectivity, particularly through India’s ‘Act East’ policy, and to push for the “early completion and operationalisation” of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and its eastward extension to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
In addition, they proposed holding a Defence Ministers Informal Meeting in November 2022 as well as a joint maritime exercise. In addition, they made plans to explore the potential of sub-regional groups such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IOR), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSETC), and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
Delighted to welcome my good friend Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Erywan Yusof to Singapore. 🇸🇬 & 🇧🇳 have a unique and special relationship. As the two smallest nations in @ASEAN, we will continue to support each other as we did during the depths of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/4Fp3ooP8u6
— Vivian Balakrishnan (@VivianBala) June 13, 2022
Furthermore, they pledged to increase collaboration on “vaccine production and distribution, research and innovation in generic medicines, cooperation on traditional medicines, strengthening public health infrastructure; and enhancing capacities for preparedness and response to the pandemic and public health emergencies.”
The meeting also saw discussions on several international conflicts and their impact on the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who co-chaired the meet alongside his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, spoke of the impact of the United States-China rivalry on the Indo-Pacific. He said, “These developments, if unchecked, can threaten the sole system of peace and stability which we have depended on for the basis of our growth and development and prosperity over many decades.”
Meanwhile, Jaishankar pushed for “deepening, broadening, and upgrading” their existing relations to “promote decentralised globalisation.” He further highlighted the negative impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said “geopolitical headwinds” have impacted food and energy security by impacting logistics and supply chains.
Had a good interaction with Foreign Ministers and Representatives of @ASEAN countries as we celebrate 30 years of close India-ASEAN cooperation. pic.twitter.com/QCItpvjXEh
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2022
ASEAN has repeatedly attempted to facilitate dialogue to bring an end to the political turmoil in Myanmar. In fact, in April 2021, the group reached a five-point consensus with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on ending the country’s political crisis, including an immediate end to violence through “constructive dialogue.” They also recommended that the special envoy of the ASEAN Chair will act as a mediator.
However, General Hlaing has failed to meet the requirements of the consensus by not allowing the ASEAN representative to meet with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Moreover, the government has also continued its threats against pro-democracy activists, with over 14,000 arrested and 114 others sentenced to death. According to the United Nations, 1500 people have been killed in protests against the junta since the coup last year. Consequently, despite opposition from Cambodia, Myanmar has been excluded from ASEAN summits ever since.
Also Read: India is Unlikely to Break its Silence on Myanmar. Here’s Why.
Myanmar’s junta government has made some efforts to appease international concerns about its rule. For instance, in October last year, hundreds of political prisoners were released from the infamous Insein prison. However, the junta reportedly re-arrested the activists “as soon as they arrived home.”
Apart from suppressing political rights, the military has also launched indiscriminate air strikes on rebel-controlled areas, burned multiple villages to the ground, and even targeting women and children.
Pleased to speak at Delhi Dialogue-XII.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 16, 2022
Such conversations are indeed the road to create changes and enhance cooperation.
Together, India and ASEAN can make a real contribution to evolution of the Indo-Pacific and even to the emergence of a new world order. pic.twitter.com/yZr3vGn7tk
Nevertheless, New Delhi has maintained strong relations with Naypyidaw, likely due to its reliance on the junta to prevent militant groups from crossing over into Indian territory. India also shares a 1,624-kilometre-long land border and a 725-kilometre maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal, which together act as a bridge to other areas of the region at large.
Foreign aid allocation in India's Budget (INR Crores) (MEA data)
— Neha 네하 방카 (@nehabnk) February 1, 2022
(2021-22) (2022-23)
Myanmar 400 600
Nepal 992 750
Maldives 250 360
Mongolia 2 12
Significant rise in aid to Maldives, Myanmar, Mongolia; countries to watch. pic.twitter.com/Vhd39SinGZ
Keeping this in mind, in its 2022 budget, India increased its foreign aid allocation for Myanmar from Rs. 400 crores ($51.23 million) to Rs. 600 crores ($76.85 million). It also abstained from voting in a United Nations General Assembly resolution that condemned the junta for its human rights abuses back in June 2021. In fact, it was one of the eight countries to attend a military parade in Naypyidaw last March, just under two months after the coup, joining Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
However, when asked about Myanmar’s participation in the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said last week that India would respect and abide by ASEAN’s decision.