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After the coup leader Min Aung Lai extended the deadline for new elections, the United States accused Myanmar military generals of delaying time. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken urged Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Increase efforts to resolve political turmoil caused by power struggles.
Brinken almost participated in talks with ASEAN’s foreign ministers this week. The 10 member states of ASEAN include Myanmar.
At a special summit in April, the group agreed to a five-point plan to address the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, including ending violence and appointing a special envoy to lead diplomatic initiatives.
But the repression continued. On Sunday, in a speech commemorating the six months of the coup d’état, Min Aung Lai said that the state of emergency implemented after the coup d’état will last until August 2023, and new elections will be held in more than a year. Later than originally promised.
A senior U.S. official who asked not to be named said that the statement “calls on ASEAN to step up its efforts because it is clear that the Myanmar military government is just delaying time and hopes to continue to extend the calendar to its advantage,” an unnamed person said. Senior U.S. officials use the name of Burma’s predecessor, Burma.
“More importantly, ASEAN must participate in it and abide by and maintain the five-point consensus clauses that Myanmar has also signed.”
Although Min Aung Lai Attend At the April meeting, he later distanced himself from the statement. According to reports, more than 900 people were killed during the six-month anti-coup protest and suppression.
ASEAN, which is currently chaired by Brunei, who has little diplomatic experience, has also been unable to appoint a special envoy.
In June, the organization came under fire after its secretary-general and a senior Brunei diplomat visited Myanmar to meet with generals. Critics say they only meet with the military, not with representatives of the democratically elected government that was overthrown on February 1, thereby giving the military rulers legitimacy.
A series of diplomatic activities were carried out in the context of the continuing political turmoil in Myanmar and the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to social media posts, there were sporadic reports of anti-junta protests on Monday and Tuesday.
In the village of Win Chone in Pauk township in northwestern Myanmar, there were reports on Tuesday that at least 50 houses were destroyed by security forces.
At least 330 people died from COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll to more than 10,000, but the actual death toll is believed to be much higher. According to official reports, more than 300,000 people have been infected with the disease.
At the same time, following floods and landslides in Mon and Kayin states, the Shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which is mainly composed of dismissed parliamentary civilian leaders, is appealing for humanitarian assistance.
NUG pledged to continue to “provide assistance to the disaster-stricken areas.”
‘Beijing’s coercion’
In addition to Myanmar, Washington hopes to assure Southeast Asia of its commitment to the region, and hopes that Brinken will participate in the regional meeting for five consecutive days, which will show that President Joe Biden’s administration takes seriously engaging with allies and partners in Southeast Asia.
The U.S. official stated that Brinken will resolve Beijing’s “coercion” to ASEAN countries in the disputed South China Sea and emphasized human rights issues in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Southeast Asia last week, where he discussed the South China Sea and reiterated that Beijing’s claims on almost the entire watercourse have no basis in international law.
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit the United States’ historic partners Singapore and Vietnam this month. Despite the unjust war, Vietnam is getting closer and closer to Washington.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is expected to meet Brinken in person in Washington this week, while Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visited Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia earlier-often regarded as the closest to Beijing One of the ASEAN countries.
According to reports, during the six-month suppression of dissidents in Myanmar, more than 900 people have been killed and thousands have been detained. [File: Stringer/AFP]In addition to the US-ASEAN ministerial talks, Brinken will also participate in ministerial meetings of the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Mekong-US Partnership and the Friends of the Mekong Initiative this week.
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