EAS expresses concern over Myanmar's conflict and humanitarian situation

The 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, hosted by the Philippines as ASEAN Chair, was held in Manila, with Foreign Ministers from the 19 EAS participating countries attending to discuss strategic, political, and economic developments affecting the Indo-Pacific region. Mizzima The 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held in Manila, Philippines on July 23, discussed the concerning situation in Myanmar, the South China Sea dispute, cross-border cybercrime, and issues pertaining to Southeast and East Asia. The meeting was chaired by Philippine Foreign Minister Maritsa P. Lazaro, who also serves as ASEAN's Special Envoy to Myanmar. The 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in its July 23, 2026 statement, expressed extreme concern over the ongoing conflict and humanitarian situation in Myanmar and called for efforts to achieve progress in the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC). The meeting unanimously reaffirmed that the Five-Point Consensus remains ASEAN's primary framework for resolving Myanmar's political crisis. It strongly condemned the continued acts of violence against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Myanmar and urged all relevant parties to take practical steps to immediately cease violence, exercise restraint, ensure the safety and security of all civilians and civilian infrastructure, provide humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people in need without discrimination, and create a conducive environment for the emergence of inclusive national dialogues for peace. The statement also welcomed the progress made in providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), which supports the fourth point of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. It also expressed gratitude for the continued support from ASEAN member states, external partners, the United Nations, the private sector, and all stakeholders in Myanmar to enable the AHA Centre to carry out effective responses. The meeting also recorded its appreciation for the continued support from the international community in implementing ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus. The statement highlighted the efforts of ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy to Myanmar, Maritsa P. Lazaro, appointed in January 2026, and her active engagement with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in Myanmar. The Special Envoy engaged with ASEAN member states, ASEAN dialogue partners, Myanmar's neighbours, international and regional partners, civil society organisations, humanitarian actors, and academic groups to find an inclusive and sustainable solution to Myanmar's crisis. The statement noted that this engagement underscored ASEAN's commitment to cooperation in addressing Myanmar's complex challenges. Furthermore, the statement reiterated the need to promote mutual trust in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in relation to the South China Sea dispute, to reduce actions that could further complicate the conflict and undermine peace and stability, and to prioritise the peaceful settlement of disputes. It emphasised the importance of exercising restraint by claimant states and other states, as outlined in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The statement expressed hope for continued efforts to finalise negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea that is effective and substantive, in accordance with international law, including 1982 UNCLOS, within this year. In addition, it reaffirmed the commitment to address evolving forms of transnational crimes, including cybercrimes, ICT-enabled scams, and online fraud, which increasingly impact regional security, economic prosperity, and the lives of people, in relation to online scams. The statement noted that these crimes are often linked to human trafficking, illegal drug trade, and money laundering. It also pointed out that online scam networks, including ICT-enabled scams targeting women and young girls in the region, are increasingly utilising new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital finance platforms, and cryptocurrencies. The meeting stressed the importance of protecting border security, preventing corruption, and combating cybercrime in accordance with the respective domestic and international laws of the EAS participating countries, and reaffirmed its resolve to combat cross-border crimes through practical cooperation, thereby creating a safe, secure, and prosperous region.