Australia Urges Myanmar to Seek Peace: Highlights on Civil War Concerns

Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, has urged Myanmar's military rulers to end the civil war, calling for adherence to ASEAN's five-point consensus peace plan. Wong emphasized the unsustainable nature of the conflict, which has displaced 2.6 million people. The issue is a focal point at the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum.

Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, has called on Myanmar's military rulers to end the ongoing civil war. She urged adherence to the ASEAN’s five-point consensus peace plan, highlighting the conflict's unsustainable nature and its devastating toll, which has displaced 2.6 million people. Wong emphasized the need for a different path during talks at the East Asia Summit and the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum, attended by global powers like Russia, the United States, and China.

Wong expressed Australia's deep concern over the instability and deaths caused by the conflict. She called for reflection on ASEAN's peace efforts, which the Myanmar junta has largely ignored. The ten-member bloc, including Myanmar, has faced significant challenges as all sides refuse to enter into dialogue.

The Myanmar civil war was also expected to be addressed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Laos. Blinken's agenda includes reiterating international law's importance in the South China Sea, amidst tensions between China and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Australia's Wong stressed the need for secure EEZs and de-escalation of regional tensions in the South China Sea.