Name: Conflict looms for leaders gathering at ASEAN
Uploaded: 2025-10-25T21:53:18.588Z
Duration: 2 min 24 s
Description: Critics often accuse ASEAN of being too timid and avoiding possible controversy. Leaders of the 10-member bloc are meeting in Malaysia’s capital for their annual summit. This year they’re joined by Asia’s youngest nation, Timor Leste, aiming to promote regional harmony and economic cooperation.

Critics often accuse ASEAN of being too timid and avoiding possible controversy. Leaders of the 10-member bloc are meeting in Malaysia’s capital for their annual summit. This year they’re joined by Asia’s youngest nation, Timor Leste, aiming to promote regional harmony and economic cooperation.

Kuala Lumpur

A major summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has drawn thousands of delegates and heightened security to Kuala Lumpur, prompting discussion about the bloc's effectiveness in addressing regional issues. Critics argue that ASEAN's principles of consensus and non-interference often lead to inaction, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Myanmar and the humanitarian crisis involving the Rohingya population.

Despite these criticisms, some commentators note progress, such as the ability to openly discuss sensitive issues like Myanmar. The summit also features the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, coordinated by ASEAN members, which is seen as a positive step towards resolving regional disputes.

Conflict looms for leaders gathering at ASEAN

It's one of the biggest summits in ASEAN's history, attracting 12,000 delegates with 20,000 security personnel, bringing large parts of Kuala Lumpur to a standstill. And all for what many of its critics argue is little more than a convivial talk shop. A talk shop is not a bad thing too, you know. I mean, a talk shop is better than a fight shop, right? So ASEAN does a lot of talking, you're right. We have about over 1,000 meetings a year. The problem, I think, ASEAN, in our association, we are all, we don't like to talk about difficult things, we all like to talk about nice things, you know, so... Former diplomat Ilango Karapanan is among those calling for the organisation to have more power when it comes to resolving regional challenges and conflicts. ASEAN's troubles, according to many, start with its founding principles of consensus and non-interference, which often seem to translate into inaction. And in recent years, that's been especially true in its dealings with Myanmar. Repeated calls for a ceasefire in the civil war that began with the military coup in 2021 have gone unheeded, including at last year's ASEAN summit, attended by the UN Secretary-General. Myanmar remains an increasingly complex path. Violence is growing, the humanitarian situation is spiralling. And that follows the apparent failure to effectively punish Myanmar for its 2017 crackdown on the largely Muslim Rohingya population that resulted in nearly a million people being displaced. But commentators argue there are signs of change. So ASEAN, if you take the longer picture, bigger picture, it actually has made some strides, because today it's possible to talk about Myanmar, which 15 years ago would have been absolutely impossible. One of the highlights of this meeting will be the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, ending recent border confrontations. US President Donald Trump, who is attending the summit, has claimed it as a personal achievement. In reality, the deal was coordinated by ASEAN members led by Malaysia, doing a lot of talking behind the scenes. Rob McBride, Al Jazeera, Kuala Lumpur.

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