- 2 days ago
While the region faces internal issues from the Myanmar civil war to border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, ASEAN’s attention might remain drawned to external shockwaves from US-Israel war on Iran. Nailah Huda speaks with Renee Louise Co, ASEAN Parliamenterian for Human Rights and Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Researcher at Universiti Malaya, to discuss key takeaways and expectations from the 2026 ASEAN Summit in May.
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00:06This is Awani Global with me, Naila Huda.
00:09And in this hour, we take a close look at the ASEAN Summit taking place in Cebu, Philippines this week.
00:15Strife with internal issues from the Myanmar civil war to border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand,
00:22and questions arise as to whether the bloc might have their hands full, especially as the regional bloc and the
00:30rest of the world remain preoccupied with tackling shockwaves from the US-Israel war on Iran.
00:37So joining me in this hour to discuss these questions concerning the ASEAN Summit as well as the whole of
00:43the ASEAN chairmanship under the Philippines in 2026.
00:47Joining me now, we have Renee Luis Koh, representative of Kabataan Partilis in the 20th Congress of the Philippines and
00:54a member of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.
00:57And also with us, Bryce Sinfuli, postdoctoral research fellow at University of Malaya.
01:02Thank you so much, Renee and Bryce, for joining me on Awani Global.
01:06Thank you, Naila, for the invitation. It's my honor to be here.
01:09Thank you, Naila, for the invitation. It's my honor to be here.
01:13Thank you so much, Bryce, for joining us again.
01:16Maybe I'd like to start with Bryce, some of your key highlights, takeaways from the ongoing ASEAN Summit this week.
01:24Of course, we're looking at the Philippines chairmanship this year, but there's also a lot of, as I mentioned, these
01:30external shocks that ASEAN might have to balance along with the internal issues that are already ongoing, Bryce.
01:39So, some of the key highlights from the ASEAN Summit, I think that they would focus is probably that there
01:45are a lot of overlapping crises this year, especially.
01:49The Iran war has pushed energy security. Philippines has been hit really, really hard on it.
01:54Food security is a concern as well as food prices are hiking everywhere in Southeast Asia.
01:58Maritime safety, maritime safety, maritime security, where a lot of states around the world are arguing that the Iran war
02:05is illegal.
02:06Supply chain disruption would probably be the center of ASEAN discussions.
02:12So, there are a lot of reports that the ASEAN leaders are looking at emergency fuel sharing, supply diversification, people
02:20have been looking into getting oil and gas from Latin America, crisis communication system, and better coordination to protect Southeast
02:26Asia in terms of any other crisis in the future.
02:29And, also, there's a lot of Southeast Asian citizens from Southeast Asia are working in the Middle East, so humanitarian
02:38and consular service are also a focus point.
02:42So, basically, the summit will also look into internal regional problems like the Thailand-Cambodia crisis, the Myanmar crisis as
02:51well.
02:51So, this makes the ASEAN summit very important this year, especially towards unity and resilience.
02:59Rene, what are your thoughts on this?
03:01What are some of the key priorities or highlights that you'll be focusing on at the ASEAN summit this week?
03:08For this week, we're very busy with ensuring that the human rights agenda remains on top amidst the worsening, deepening,
03:18and parallel crisis happening all over the globe and definitely affecting ASEAN countries.
03:25Of course, we are to expect the summit will produce the usual calls for unity, centrality, and resilience.
03:32But, for the Filipino youth that are taking the brunt of the crisis here in the Philippines,
03:39there is a glaring gap between rhetoric with what is being said by ASEAN leaders and the reality.
03:45So, this is not only felt in the Philippines, but across Southeast Asia,
03:52Myanmar youth are also taking the brunt of different forms of human rights violations
03:58as the junta continues its activities while slowly gaining recognition in terms of how it can conduct now coordination
04:09and even discussions with leaders of ASEAN countries.
04:13So, for us, what matters is how the ASEAN, its leaders, and the citizens that are being encompassed by this
04:21bloc
04:23can respond to the deepening humanitarian catastrophe felt in the region
04:28and also how it can express solidarity on an international level,
04:32especially while as the crisis felt in West Asia also displaces millions of overseas workers
04:42coming from ASEAN countries and having the effect of worsening economic inequalities in the region.
04:50So, we're looking forward to, you know, making the Filipino youth's voices heard
04:57as well as also conducting solidarity activities with other youth formations across ASEAN to address this matter.
05:08I mean, exactly as you said, one of the earlier statements that we're seeing from ASEAN,
05:14as chair of ASEAN, the Philippines, coming out with a statement this week,
05:18calling for greater regional unity and resilience as ASEAN faces growing geopolitical and security challenges.
05:25Not much, you know, newness or difference here in the kind of messaging that we're seeing from ASEAN.
05:30But, Bryce, we're seeing internal issues, you know, from the Myanmar civil war to border tensions
05:37still simmering between Cambodia and Thailand.
05:40What do you think this says about ASEAN's current priorities
05:43and their ability to, at the same time, tackle external shocks?
05:48Honestly, I think in terms of ASEAN, especially ASEAN summit,
05:52the main focus would not be Thailand, Cambodia or Myanmar, unfortunately.
05:56The main focus would be the Iran war
05:59because the energy crisis is hitting these Southeast Asian countries really, really hard.
06:04And it affects fuel costs, transport, food price, subsidies and household, as I said before.
06:09But in relation to Myanmar and Thailand, Cambodia crisis,
06:14it still exposed ASEAN's internal weakness.
06:18On Myanmar, especially ASEAN's non-interference norm remains a very major constraint.
06:24The five-point consensus, in my opinion, has not stopped the violence or produced meaningful dialogue
06:29because ASEAN has few enforcement tools in general.
06:33And the Thailand-Cambodia crisis or war or whatnot is very sensitive in a very, very different way
06:39because it brings international law into ASEAN.
06:45So, for example, Thailand has rejected the ICJ's rule that Cambodia has always relied on.
06:54And this would be very interesting because in relation to Philippines,
07:01they rely on UNCLOC, the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea dispute.
07:05And with Thailand rejecting it, it sets a very bad precedent in the South China Sea dispute in general.
07:12And the big irony to this is that both Philippines and Thailand are US allies,
07:18but on very different sides on legal rulings, basically.
07:23Rene, from the perspective of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights,
07:27what do you have to say or what are your thoughts on ASEAN's current priorities
07:32looking at some of the internal issues, as you mentioned, of course,
07:35the need to tackle and to address with greater political will the Myanmar civil war.
07:41But at the same time, as Bryce said, there's a lot more attention
07:44and political will to address shockwaves from the Iran war.
07:50What are your thoughts on this, Rene?
07:51I think this year, as with previous years,
07:55we are seeing the weaknesses of ASEAN's consensus-based mechanisms,
08:02which on theory and on paper, we'd like the ASEAN countries to,
08:07on a consensus basis, agree upon how to best promote international law principles.
08:14But at the end of the day, what happens is ASEAN countries prioritize their own national interests
08:21and just let weakening of particular hold and grasp of these principles
08:27that could be seen in other ASEAN countries, they just let it be.
08:31So the civil war in Myanmar is now in its fifth year and the Junta continues to commit crimes against
08:38humanity.
08:39And this is what is echoed by the newest member of ASEAN, Timor-Leste.
08:45But ASEAN continues to insist on the five-point consensus that,
08:49unfortunately, the Junta itself never honored.
08:51So, of course, we'd like also the ASEAN to prioritize how to best respond to the crisis
08:58because of the war that is being waged by U.S. and Israel in West Asia,
09:05particularly in Iran and in the past few years against Palestine as well.
09:09And now it has come to a head because in ASEAN, all over the world,
09:16but most especially in the Philippines, we felt the gravity of oil price shocks,
09:23worsening economic issues domestically and even making a crisis for the supply of energy on a regional level.
09:32So at the end of the day, we can still address these issues.
09:37Well, at the same time, not taking a backseat on the internal issues plaguing ASEAN for so long.
09:45So we have consistently put forward the need to prioritize for ASEAN to make a stronger stance
09:55on resolving peacefully the civil war in Myanmar, tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
10:03But unfortunately, we do see time and time again the weaknesses of the framework
10:11which ASEAN continues to insist upon.
10:15And now the Filipino youth and different groups,
10:19including the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights,
10:22are now looking forward to and asserting alternatives to this kind of framework.
10:28I want to pin that thought and we'll go back to the Myanmar conflict shortly.
10:32But before that, Bryce, we're looking at ASEAN or a report on ASEAN saying that
10:38the bloc plans to issue a contingency plan that upholds international law, sovereignty and freedom of navigation.
10:45This is in response to what we're seeing in West Asia, of course, to do with the US, Israel and
10:50Iran.
10:51What do you think a collective crisis plan might look like from ASEAN?
10:58Well, that's a very interesting question.
11:00But collective ASEAN has always been somewhat non-united, I wouldn't dare say.
11:09But however, this Iran crisis has been a very big issue,
11:16especially in terms of energy crisis, and a collective response would be very useful.
11:21However, at the same time, I would find that a collective response would be somewhat useless
11:28because the most powerful country in the world is against Iran, and it's the US.
11:35And no matter what we do, especially in Trump's term, it will not be heard.
11:42And I think that is the biggest issue in terms of the Iran war.
11:47And no matter how united we are, we might not be able to move the needle for this.
11:53Renee, maybe you have your thoughts on this.
11:55You seem to agree.
11:56Do you think that ASEAN should choose their battles here?
12:01This is beyond saving, perhaps?
12:05It's heartbreaking that the reality that we've seen from previous years,
12:15it will most likely also be the pattern this year.
12:19ASEAN will issue a watered-down statement calling for restraint,
12:23for de-escalation, in respect for international law,
12:26But without naming the aggressors, without imposing any form of measures,
12:31or even calling for accountability,
12:34what ASEAN will end up doing is just staying neutral,
12:38which I would argue could be an existential threat as well.
12:44Here in the Philippines, just a few days ago,
12:47the United States has launched a tomahawk missile from Tacloban, Lete,
12:55to central Luzon, spanning 600 kilometers of distance,
13:02which if you launch it, for example, at the most northern tip of the Philippines,
13:07it can now reach the shores of China.
13:11We are unfortunately, the Philippines, being forced to be dragged into a war
13:22that the Filipino youth, the Filipino people, are not consenting to entering,
13:27and that will make the entire ASEAN region actually vulnerable
13:31to not only economic effects of whatever could be started
13:37or whatever tensions may arise,
13:39but also politically and militarily,
13:42which is why this representation has always been adamant
13:46in the years that it has taken a seat in Congress,
13:50and before that, that it must make its stance for national sovereignty,
13:57and then therefore the solidarity of ASEAN nations for their sovereignties
14:02be strengthened,
14:03and to resist attempts of imperialist nations or foreign interests beyond the confines of ASEAN,
14:12to enter into and influence the ASEAN agenda beyond what should be beneficial for its people.
14:20So unfortunately, when it comes to the Iran war,
14:24we can expect the same neutral language to be used,
14:30but at the end of the day, if we don't take a stronger stance,
14:34this will eventually,
14:37may lead to the detriment of the welfare of the people of ASEAN nations.
14:44I think it's interesting what you pointed out there,
14:47this concept of neutrality being ASEAN's very own existential threat.
14:52Along the same note, I think in an article recently,
14:56you talked about ASEAN's response towards the Myanmar civil war,
15:01or lack thereof.
15:02In this article, you emphasised,
15:04five years of consensus have produced nothing.
15:07It is time for consequences.
15:10I found this really interesting.
15:12What do you think you meant here by consequences?
15:14Do you think the five-point consensus plan is beyond saving at this point?
15:21Well, by consequences,
15:23we mean that ASEAN must finally move beyond rhetoric
15:28and impose and explore real measures
15:31that pressure the junta to stop its crimes
15:34and open spaces for a genuine democratic transition.
15:40For years, we've seen that the ASEAN invokes the five-point consensus
15:47to make this stand.
15:49And we've seen the junta use the cover of elections
15:57to legitimise its claim to power,
16:02all the while imprisoning, torturing,
16:06conducting human rights violations against the opposition,
16:09and members of democratic forces
16:12so as to not produce any form of legitimate choice
16:18that the people could make during that point in time.
16:22So for us,
16:24this is not the time for ASEAN
16:26to let go of the five-point consensus
16:31or even hold on to it
16:33as if it is just a paper tiger.
16:35So we can explore suspension of Myanmar's ASEAN membership
16:40or even exclusion from meetings,
16:43maybe particular meetings,
16:44especially when we talk about how they respect the human rights agenda
16:50that ASEAN is forwarding.
16:53We should also ensure that there will be a referral of the junta
16:58to the International Criminal Court for Crimes Against Humanity.
17:02It is unfortunate that Timor-Leste is facing consequences
17:06for taking a stand on the crimes against humanity
17:12that is being undertaken by the junta in Myanmar.
17:15But ASEAN can explore throwing its support instead to its newest member
17:20that is bravely taking the stand.
17:22We could also explore how ASEAN can coordinate directly
17:28with democratic forces in Myanmar
17:31to ensure full and unrestricted humanitarian access
17:34while the junta is embargoing the supply lines
17:42for this humanitarian aid to come through.
17:48These are just some of the points that we could explore.
17:51But of course, we'd like to forward these points
17:56to be discussed during this ASEAN summit.
18:00Unfortunately, we might not see that come to fruition
18:04given the history of ASEAN.
18:07But nonetheless, the Filipino youth are here
18:10and other civil groups are calling for the same actions
18:14to be explored.
18:16Bryce, what are your thoughts on this?
18:18Do you think that it's time for real consequences?
18:22Oh, definitely.
18:22I think ASEAN should stop treating non-compliance as cost-free.
18:26This is the most important thing.
18:27The junta should not receive ASEAN legitimacy
18:30while ignoring the escalation, humanitarian access,
18:34and especially inclusive dialogue
18:36because they have ignored everything that does not benefit them
18:39and just took everything that benefits them in general.
18:41So I would agree.
18:42Consequences should include continued exclusion,
18:45especially from top-level ASEAN meetings,
18:48clear deadlines and set deadlines especially,
18:51humanitarian access conditions as well,
18:53more engagement with a lot of different humanitarian groups
18:56and local governance actors,
18:58and stronger coordination,
18:59especially with outside organizations,
19:01such as the United Nations.
19:03I heard that France is also trying to take part in this
19:06with the European Union,
19:08as well as external partners.
19:10So ASEAN should keep all channels open,
19:12but they should also try to include outside organizations
19:16to help facilitate this
19:18because the way I see it now,
19:20ASEAN has its hands tied from non-interference and whatnot.
19:26On that note, Bryce,
19:28what do you hope to see from ASEAN in 2026,
19:31whether it's to do with the Myanmar civil war
19:33and issues beyond,
19:34what do you hope to see,
19:36but at the same time,
19:37what do you think should be on their list of priorities this year?
19:41Well, ASEAN should focus on five priorities, I believe.
19:47First, like Rene said Myanmar,
19:50ASEAN needs clear benchmarks,
19:52humanitarian access,
19:53and consequences for non-compliance.
19:56I do believe that the second thing
19:58is probably one of the more important things
20:00that everyone in Southeast Asia is focusing,
20:01which is energy security.
20:03The Iran war has showed
20:05how exposed Southeast Asia is
20:07to disruption outside the region,
20:09especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
20:11So we should look into,
20:14I guess, like ASEAN energy grid
20:17and more energy diversification
20:19and whatnot,
20:20stockpiling oil and gas,
20:22coal,
20:23and all sorts of energy.
20:25Maritime security is also an important thing
20:27because the United States
20:28is obviously invoking freedom on a vacation
20:31and waging an illegal war in Iran.
20:35Internal conflict prevention is another thing.
20:38Thailand and Cambodia
20:39shows that ASEAN needs stronger,
20:41preventive diplomacy,
20:42and kudos to the Malaysian chairmanship last year
20:45where they tried their best
20:47to help solve this issue.
20:49And like again,
20:51like we both discussed just now,
20:53the fifth one is probably
20:54the non-interference norms of ASEAN.
20:59Rene, lastly,
21:00what do you hope to see
21:01from ASEAN in 2026?
21:03And what do you think
21:04we'll see from
21:06the Philippines' chairmanship this year?
21:09Well, I hope to see an ASEAN
21:12despite its history
21:14and despite the continuing hold
21:16of the consensus-based framework.
21:19I hope it begins to prioritize
21:22the people's welfare.
21:23First and foremost,
21:26looking and shining a spotlight on Myanmar,
21:30we should explore to call
21:33the ending the brocade
21:34on humanitarian aid to Myanmar
21:36and recognizing
21:38the grievances of the people therein
21:42in terms of how
21:44the military hunter continues to rule
21:46its government.
21:47Number two,
21:49I hope that the ASEAN
21:52continues
21:54its talks
21:55and
21:56take a clear stance
21:58on the Iran war
21:59and other conflicts
22:00and no
22:01more of
22:02neutral
22:03posturing
22:04that benefits
22:05only the aggressors
22:06and could one day
22:07even
22:08drag
22:09the ASEAN region
22:10into conflict
22:11that it does not want
22:12to enter into.
22:13And I hope
22:15that there's space
22:16at the end of the day
22:17to address the climate crisis
22:19through real measures
22:20that protect
22:21the most vulnerable
22:23populations
22:24in ASEAN.
22:25There's always
22:26in the coastal regions
22:27fisherfolk
22:28and in the plains
22:30where they're usually
22:31flooded by typhoons,
22:32farmers
22:33and indigenous communities.
22:35Market-based solutions
22:37or solutions
22:38that insist on
22:39destroying the environment
22:41and without consultations
22:43with the people
22:44are not
22:45the solutions
22:46that we'd like to pursue
22:47but we hope
22:48that the
22:48marginalized communities
22:50take a forefront role
22:53in addressing
22:54these issues.
22:55At the end of the day,
22:56however,
22:57when it comes to
22:58respect for human rights,
23:00we hope that
23:01the ASEAN
23:02continues to talk
23:04about
23:06how to conduct
23:07itself in a way
23:08that promotes
23:09the human rights agenda
23:11but this representation
23:13is skeptical
23:15of the Philippines'
23:17leadership
23:17in terms of
23:18advancing the
23:19human rights agenda
23:20especially
23:21as the Philippine
23:23military
23:23and this administration
23:25has its own
23:26dark history
23:27of human rights abuses.
23:29Nonetheless,
23:30with the
23:32leadership
23:33of the people,
23:34we hope that
23:36the ASEAN
23:37breaks
23:38from the
23:39quote-unquote
23:40elite consensus
23:41and move towards
23:43people's participation
23:44better.
23:46Thank you so much,
23:47Renee,
23:47and thank you as well
23:48to Bryce
23:48for sharing your insights
23:50on what you hope to see
23:51and what we
23:52might expect to see
23:54from the ASEAN summit
23:55taking place
23:56in Cebu, Philippines
23:57this week
23:58as well as
23:58the whole of
23:592026
24:00as the regional bloc
24:01tackles both
24:02internal and external
24:03shocks
24:04of course
24:05to do with
24:05the Iran war
24:06or the US-Israel war
24:07on Iran specifically.
24:08Thank you once again
24:09to Renee and Bryce
24:10for joining us.
24:11That is all on
24:12Awani Global this week.
24:12We'll catch you next time.
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