Blinken Pushes for Myanmar Accountability and South China Sea Discussions at ASEAN Summit

Thu Oct 10 2024
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VIENTIANE, Laos: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Laos to attend the ASEAN Summit, where he aims to address two critical issues, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea.

Blinken is representing the US in place of President Joe Biden, who is missing the summit for the second consecutive year.

Blinken is expected to support ASEAN’s efforts to diplomatically engage with Myanmar’s military junta but will advocate for continued pressure due to the regime’s lack of progress on reducing violence and releasing political prisoners. Additionally, he plans to back Southeast Asian nations in raising concerns over China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, a major point of tension in the region.

Beyond regional security, Blinken will meet with leaders like Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has been vocal about his criticism of US policy toward Israel, and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as part of efforts to maintain strong diplomatic ties in Southeast Asia.

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