ASEAN- Australia Agitations
Acting Head of State: "Cambodia is Ready to Collaborate with Myanmar", Australia warns Southeast Asia of 'coercive actions', Brunei's Sultan Eyes on China-Myanmar
By Bunrith (Khmer)
by L Vy (English)
Cambodia has been ready to cordially collaborate with Myanmar to further promote bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas for the benefits of both countries and people.
The confirmation was made by Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chum, Acting Head of State, while he was receiving a courtesy call from newly appointed Ambassador of Myanmar to Cambodia H.E. Kyaw Soe Min, who came to present his credentials here at the Senate Palace this morning.
Samdech Say Chhum congratulated H.E. Kyaw Soe Min for his new diplomatic mission in Cambodia, and expressed his optimism that the ambassador would continue strengthening and expanding the ties of friendship and cooperation in all fields, including the people-to-people relations between both countries.
The Acting Head of State took the opportunity to appreciate the cordial long-lasting relations and cooperation between the two ASEAN nations, and reassured that Cambodia in general and the Senate, National Assembly, Royal Government of Cambodia, ministries/institutions in specific have been ready to closely cooperate with H.E. Kyaw Soe Min for the sake of both countries and peoples.
For his part, H.E. Kyaw Soe Min pledged to do his best to further promote the bilateral relations and fruitful cooperation between both countries to the new height.
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Australia warns Southeast Asia of 'coercive actions'
SYDNEY, March 4 (Reuters) - Australia said on Monday Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian countries are facing serious defence threats as it set aside more funds for maritime security projects with ASEAN countries during a summit with regional leaders in Melbourne.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced A$286.5 million ($186.7 million) in funding for ASEAN projects in areas including maritime security, amid tensions over China's growing assertiveness and its disputed claims to the South China Sea.
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"We face destabilising, provocative and coercive actions including unsafe conduct at sea and in the air," Wong said in a speech at the summit, without naming China.
"What happens in the South China Sea, in the Taiwan Strait, in the Mekong subregion, across the Indo-Pacific, affects us all."
Melbourne is hosting leaders and officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) for a summit from Monday to Wednesday. ASEAN member Myanmar was excluded due to the ongoing conflict in the country.
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Australia is using the 50th anniversary of its ties with ASEAN to bolster ties with the region as it deals with China's growing diplomatic and military reach.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis.
Speaking alongside Wong, Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo said the South China Sea was of strategic importance and had a promising future as long as "nations in the region resolved to uphold cooperation over confrontation".
[1/5]Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong speaks during the Maritime Cooperation Forum of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, in Melbourne, Australia March 4, 2024. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy Purchase Licensing Rights
Australia and the Philippines began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea in November.
The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around freedom-of-navigation operations.
MYANMAR CONFLICT
Just over a month since ASEAN foreign ministers called for an end to the bloody conflict in member state Myanmar, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the downtown Melbourne venue to call for concrete punitive action against the military junta.
ASEAN has barred Myanmar's top generals from attending its meetings until they commit to a peace plan, but has stopped short of further action. The junta has been furious over what it calls ASEAN's interference in its internal affairs.
One activist called for international recognition of the parallel National Unity Government, which controls militias in the country.
"ASEAN countries and Australia please act. We need action, please don't wait for (ASEAN's) plan, it is useless," activist Yuyu Chit said.
($1 = 1.5344 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson and Praveen Menon in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates
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Brunei's Sultan Eyes on China-Myanmar
Sultan of Brunei joins ASEAN-Australia Summit 2024 in Melbourne, emphasising 50 years of partnership and addressing key regional issues.
By Geeta Pillai
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam embarked on a significant journey to Melbourne, Australia, on the morning of 4th March, to participate in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit scheduled for the 5th to 6th March 2024. Accompanying him was His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Mateen, amidst the serene pre-departure ceremony that included the recitation of Doa Selamat, marking a hopeful commencement of their diplomatic mission.
Significance of the Summit
The ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2024 holds monumental significance as it commemorates 50 years of partnership between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This relationship, initiated in 1974, symbolizes a longstanding commitment to shared prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. With the Sultan of Brunei's presence, the summit underscores the importance of unity and dialogue among ASEAN countries and their Australian ally. Key issues such as the assertive maneuvers by China in the South China Sea and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar are expected to dominate discussions, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape the region navigates.
Challenges and Opportunities
Amidst the backdrop of regional tensions, the summit presents both challenges and opportunities for ASEAN and Australia. The absence of Myanmar from political representation at the summit highlights the pressing need to address the violence and instability following the 2021 military coup. Furthermore, the summit offers a platform to strengthen naval and aerial security collaborations, as exemplified by joint sea and air patrols with the Philippines in the contested South China Sea. Such initiatives are vital in ensuring the sovereignty and safety of ASEAN nations amidst external pressures.
ASEAN's Strategic Role
As ASEAN celebrates a half-century of partnership with Australia, the bloc's strategic significance in the Indo-Pacific cannot be understated. The summit in Melbourne not only serves to reaffirm ASEAN's commitment to regional stability but also to navigate the delicate balance of relations with major powers like China. With the humanitarian plight in Myanmar casting a shadow over ASEAN's credibility, the summit provides a crucial moment for member states to reflect on their collective purpose and the path forward in addressing both internal and external challenges.
As the Sultan of Brunei and other ASEAN leaders gather in Melbourne, their discussions will not only shape the future direction of ASEAN-Australia relations but also influence the broader geopolitical dynamics of the region. The outcomes of this summit could mark a pivotal moment in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the enduring importance of diplomatic dialogue and cooperation in navigating the complexities of the 21st century.
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US Defense No 2, Jed Royal in Cambodia, Thailand, and Brunei
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (PDASD) for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jed Royal concluded his visit to Cambodia, Thailand, and Brunei today after a series of productive defense engagements.
"My engagements across Southeast Asia underscored the real momentum we're seeing between the United States and our partners in the region," PDASD Royal said. "Together, we're delivering a shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific."
PDASD Royal's trip began in Cambodia, where he joined Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink to meet with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Ministry of Defense counterparts. The officials discussed how to deepen the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral relationship and address issues of concern.
Next, he traveled with A/S Kritenbrink to Bangkok for the U.S.-Thailand 2+2 Strategic Defense Dialogue, where the two officials met with their Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs counterparts. PDASD Royal and A/S Kritenbrink reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the alliance, welcomed Thailand's leadership on regional issues, and discussed opportunities for future cooperation. During his time in Thailand, PDASD Royal also met with Minister of Defence Suthin Klungsang.
PDASD Royal and A/S Kritenbrink's final stop was in Brunei, where they met with Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Erywan and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defense Dato Alirupendi to discuss ways to enhance U.S.-Brunei cooperation. PDASD Royal also toured two visiting U.S. F-35 aircraft with Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force Brigadier General Dato Sharif.
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