16-6-2024 (SINGAPORE) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, one of the few Asian leaders in attendance at the peace summit in Switzerland, issued a clarion call on June 15 for global efforts to achieve “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine. His plea underscored the challenge facing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in garnering robust international support, especially from Asia, for a conflict often portrayed as an existential crisis for Europe.
Despite Zelensky’s personal appeal for their leaders’ participation, most Asian countries were represented at the international gathering in Buergenstock not by their heads of state or government, but by ministers, officials, and other representatives. Kishida and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao stood as notable exceptions.
“Many in Asia see the conflict in Ukraine as far away and not of key concern to them, despite the fact that Russian aggression towards Ukraine affects grain supply and fossil fuel prices,” observed Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) political science department.
Dr. Ian Storey, a senior fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, suggested that Russia’s absence might also explain the reluctance of Asian heads of state to attend the summit. “Some states who oppose Russia’s invasion may not send their head of state or government in view of the fact that the summit is unlikely to achieve a major breakthrough, especially given that Russia will not attend,” he said.
The poor attendance from Asia underscores the uphill battle Zelensky faces in rallying global support for his country in a war that has now dragged on for more than two years and is often framed as an existential crisis for Europe.
In his speech, Kishida emphasized the importance of global participation at the summit. “Realizing fair and lasting peace in Ukraine would be symbolic and important in order to steer the world to harmony, not to division or confrontation,” he stated.
“Based on a sense of crisis that what is happening in Ukraine might occur in East Asia tomorrow, Japan has imposed strict sanctions on Russia and provided strong support for Ukraine,” he added.
Of the 92 countries taking part in the summit, the majority – 57 – were represented by their head of state or head of government. Only eight countries from Asia sent delegates.
In the lead-up to the summit, Zelensky had embarked on a diplomatic charm offensive in Asia, including an in-person stop at the region’s premier defense summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, in early June. “We want Asia to know what is going on in Ukraine. We want Asia to support the end of the war, and Asian leaders to attend the peace summit,” Zelensky had urged at the dialogue.
Singapore was represented at the Swiss peace summit by Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann.
Other Southeast Asian countries in attendance included Thailand and the Philippines, represented by Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra and presidential adviser Carlito Galvez Jr, respectively. Indonesia sent its ambassador to Switzerland, I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, while India dispatched senior diplomat Pavan Kapoor from its Ministry of External Affairs.
China’s absence was notable, having stated weeks earlier that it would participate only in a peace summit recognized by both Russia and Ukraine. Its no-show was seen by observers as evidence of its pro-Russia tilt, despite its professed neutrality in the conflict.
Zelensky has alleged that Russia had been using Chinese influence and diplomats to pressure countries in the region against participating in the peace summit.
However, Senate president and former long-time prime minister Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia’s decision to stay away was in no way influenced by China. “Whether other countries join or not is their right to decide. Please do not try to blame China when Cambodia does not participate in the peace summit, and please stop linking Cambodia to geopolitical games against China,” he wrote in a June 7 Facebook post.
Other Southeast Asian absentees included Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science and international relations expert at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University, suggested that Malaysia’s no-show might signal its prioritization of crises in Gaza and Myanmar. “Malaysia, as ASEAN chair next year, seems to take its own principled stand with a value-based agenda on Gaza and Myanmar,” he said.
With Ukraine facing a much larger and better-armed neighbor in a brutal war of attrition, the peace conference was viewed as an important event for signaling its continued political and diplomatic support.
“Zelensky is trying to muster as much support as he can for his country, whether in terms of pushing for an end to the conflict or rebuilding his country after the war,” said NUS’ Prof Chong, adding that any turnout from Asia was a plus for both Ukraine and Zelensky on that front.
While countries like Singapore and the Philippines have expressed support for Ukraine, Prof Chong noted their ministerial-level representation at the peace conference likely reflected their level of interest, given their perceived limited ability or desire to directly influence developments in Europe.
“At most, the current governments of these states may be looking to shore up existing international rules and institutions while looking to see if there are opportunities to take part in the post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine, whenever that happens,” he added.
