15-11-2023 (JAKARTA) Defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a lasting resolution to the crisis in Myanmar during the commencement of a regional meeting on Wednesday.
The two-day gathering in Jakarta brought together defence ministers from the ASEAN bloc and key players in the Indo-Pacific region, as major powers compete for influence and conflicts escalate from Myanmar to the Middle East.
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, opening the annual meeting, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, particularly the “horrifying” humanitarian conditions. He stated that Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, had a clear and firm stance on the matter. Subianto called for an immediate halt to hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
During his visit to Washington this week, Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged US President Joe Biden to take stronger action to bring an end to the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Malaysian Defence Minister Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan also echoed the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemning terrorism in all its forms, including the taking of hostages and the bombing of civilian residences.
As the chair of ASEAN this year, Prabowo urged his counterparts to make tangible progress towards a peaceful resolution in Myanmar, which has been plagued by chaos and violence since the military coup in 2021.
The annual meeting takes place amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as escalating tensions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. China, accused of aggression against the Philippines, which enjoys US support and seeks to strengthen military ties with Japan, will be a focus of discussions.
With the exception of Myanmar, all ASEAN defence ministers attended Wednesday’s forum. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to meet his counterparts later in the day.
On Thursday, the talks will expand to include Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand, and Australia.
ASEAN, home to approximately 660 million people and with a combined gross domestic product exceeding $3.2 trillion, has long been courted by both Washington and Beijing. However, the intense rivalry between the two superpowers has raised concerns among ASEAN members.
“Competition is healthy, but it should not devolve into a zero-sum game,” emphasised Indonesia’s defence minister and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, during a foreign policy forum earlier this week. He stressed the importance of non-alignment.
China will be represented by Air Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission. The recent removal of China’s defence minister in October has raised questions about the stability of President Xi Jinping’s leadership circle.
Austin’s visit to Indonesia follows his trip to South Korea, where he expressed concerns about Russia and China aiding North Korea in evading sanctions and Moscow’s deepening military ties with Pyongyang.
Aaron Connelly, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, expects discussions at the meeting to touch on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as China’s actions in blocking Philippine resupply missions at a disputed reef.
“While this forum may not be the platform for major geopolitical developments to be addressed or significantly progressed, we anticipate discussions between the US and the Philippines on topics such as the Second Thomas Shoal, Israel-Hamas, and Ukraine,” Connelly remarked.
