CNI News
24 April 2025
ASEAN's engagement with the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) is an attempt to shape the political landscape in Myanmar as a turning point, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson for the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.
ASEAN rotating chairman, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, Advisor to the ASEAN Chairman, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met in Bangkok, Thailand, on 17 April 2025.
In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Mr. Anwar and the National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than held an online meeting on April 18, 2025, the NUG announced.
While seeing Thaksin, Advisor to the Chairman of ASEAN and the Chairman of the SAC
ASEAN is becoming more involved in Myanmar's affairs because the current military situation, violence, and conflict avoidance in Myanmar are also affecting ASEAN, U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson for the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), told CNI News.
"Myanmar shares borders with ASEAN members Thailand and Laos. Myanmar is closely linked to ASEAN member states. Myanmar's image is being badly damaged, not only in ASEAN and Asia, but also globally. Violent killings and displacement in Myanmar are also affecting ASEAN. And the strategic military situation at Myanmar's western gate is likely to become quite tense. That is why ASEAN is becoming more involved in Myanmar affairs. In particular, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin was very close to the Myanmar military leaders. I see that, together with him, ASEAN leaders are trying to shape a turning point in the Myanmar political landscape." he said.
SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar, the rotating chairman of ASEAN, discussed the ASEAN community's continued support for Myanmar's recovery efforts from the earthquake disaster. In addition, they also discussed cooperation issues within the Myanmar-ASEAN community.
While the ASEAN rotating chairman, Anwar and the NUG's Mahn Win Khaing Than were discussing online
ASEAN appeared to be intervening in any regional political changes and was trying to resolve issues politically, U Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNI.
"To be honest, ASEAN is playing games with China and the US, which side will they take? In any case, it's a form of brokered-engagement where they can intervene and they only tried what they were able to do in any political change in the region. So, what ASEAN's role is depends on how well it works. We can't just expect that everything will be resolved if ASEAN steps in and helps. But we need to watch how much more ASEAN can do." he said.
The year 2025 will be a turning point for the revolution, the NUG will work harder to win the revolution, Acting President of the NUG, Duwa Lashi La said in his New Year's speech on April 17, 2025.
