ASEAN Faces Backlash Over Myanmar Junta Re-engagement

The gathering, intended as a platform for the junta to report on internal stability, has drawn sharp rebuke from regional observers who argue the move undermines the Five-Point Consensus. Since the 2021 uprising, the military has largely ignored these diplomatic guidelines, instead pushing back against what it labels foreign interference in domestic affairs. By sidelining democratic stakeholders and opposition groups in these talks, ASEAN faces accusations of abandoning its leverage in exchange for a facade of regional order. As the civil war continues to escalate, the decision to host these discussions signals a shift that may weaken the bloc's credibility as a mediator, effectively rewarding the junta while the prospects for a return to civilian rule remain nonexistent.