Military Junta Responds, Stating Cooperation Only Per Provisional Parliament Decision After Continued Ban From ASEAN Summits

The military junta's interim government has responded by issuing a statement that it will continue to cooperate with ASEAN only in accordance with the decisions of the provisional parliament, which emerged from its sham 2025 general election, due to being banned and excluded from ASEAN summits because of the military coup and acts of violence. This statement was issued in response to ASEAN's decision to continue banning the interim government after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on July 23 in Manila, Philippines, accusing ASEAN of violating the five-point consensus. In a press conference held after the Manila meeting, ASEAN Special Envoy and Philippine Foreign Minister Lazaro confirmed that the actions of top leaders, including interim President Min Aung Hlaing, will continue to be monitored and evaluated, and that returning to summit meetings is "still a long way off." Furthermore, it was agreed to appoint a special envoy with a longer tenure instead of the current one-year rotating system to effectively handle Myanmar affairs, and the ban on military leaders attending meetings was also reaffirmed at the ASEAN meeting. The interim government's statement indicated that regarding ASEAN's pressure, the interim government's foreign minister stated at the Bangkok meeting in Thailand on July 12 that relations would be normalized through "Myanmar's own methods." Additionally, concerning the five-point ASEAN consensus, it stated that it is necessary to respect and abide by it as a crucial resolution has been approved by its provisional parliament, and that it will only engage in accordance with the 2008 constitution. The interim government further accused ASEAN's actions of interfering in its internal affairs. The five-point ASEAN consensus adopted at the summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, which the interim president and military leader Min Aung Hlaing last attended, included an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, provision of humanitarian assistance, and the dispatch of an ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar. However, the interim government stated that it would consider the five-point ASEAN consensus constructively only if it supports its future plans. Photo: Social Media