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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Asean balancing act begins
US tariffs, China and Myanmar to top agenda as KL talks open KUALA LUMPUR: As the international geopolitical and economic landscape grows increasingly uncertain, the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and related meetings which open today is set to play a key role. A highlight will be a dialogue session between Asean and the United States on Thursday, the day after US President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs ends. Trump's latest warning to slap additional tariffs on countries aligning themselves with BRICS will be a key discussion point. ALSO READ: Papua New Guinea's Asean bid faces a long road On Sunday, the US president warned that any country that aligned itself with 'anti-American policies' of the BRICS economic bloc will face an additional 10% tariff. Indonesia is the sole Asean nation that is a full BRICS member, with Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam having joined as partner countries last October. Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Department Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi said the AMM will see Asean trying to hold itself together while navigating a messy geopolitical environment with Trump back in charge. 'The Asean-US dialogue will be closely watched with Trump's approach tending to be more transactional and less predictable,' she said. Amid the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between global superpowers, she expected China to likely use its presence at the AMM to present itself as a more stable and reliable partner. At the East Asia Summit and the Asean Regional Forum on Friday, Assoc Prof Khoo said we will probably see US-China rivalry play out more openly. 'Asean's responses might start to split, depending on each country's own alignment and economic interests,' she pointed out. Assoc Prof Khoo said the big question was whether Asean could take a stronger and more strategic position on tough issues involving Myanmar, the South China Sea and on economic resilience. 'In short, this AMM will really show us where Asean stands not just in terms of unity, but on how it is adjusting to a much more volatile and transactional global environment, especially with the US shifting gears again,' she added. The Myanmar issue will be high on the AMM agenda, given the heightened expectations on Asean with the civil war there ongoing for four years without meaningful progress, she said. 'There is only so much the region can keep repeating statements without follow-through,' she added. Asia West East Centre director and co-founder Abdolreza Alami said Trump's proposed tariffs on Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines poses a significant threat to Asean's export-driven economies. As such, he said US-Asean dialogue will be a vital platform for negotiations with American officials to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. Abdolreza said the region aimed to maintain neutrality and Asean centrality, and the separate dialogues with US and China will focus on balancing relations with both superpowers. 'The intensifying US-China competition, particularly in the South China Sea and technology, places Asean in a delicate position,' he added. Julia Roknifard, senior lecturer at Taylor's University School of Law and Governance, said US tariffs will be a major point of discussion but Asean as a regional grouping 'held collective weight to address the tariff challenge.' 'Each country will share its response to the US tariff policy and they will see how Asean countries can align themselves,' she added. Roknifard expected the Myanmar crisis to be raised during the AMM with Malaysia heavily pushing for progress on that front. 'While the ability of Asean members to resolve the crisis is limited, they still want to keep the issue in discussion, in the hopes that keeping it high on the agenda will eventually have some effect on the Myanmar government,' she added. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the official AMM opening ceremony tomorrow upon his return from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he addressed the BRICS Summit. The four-day meet will include the South-East Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Commission meeting, 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the 32nd Asean Regional Forum. More than 10 Asean Post-Ministerial Conferences will be held, including meetings with China, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, South Korea, United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Papua New Guinea's Asean bid faces a long road
KUALA LUMPUR: Papua New Guinea's bid to join Asean may be raised at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM), but analysts expect a long and winding road ahead. They point to Timor-Leste's experience, which will finally be admitted in October as the 11th member nation of the regional grouping, due to the slew of political, legal and economic requirements it had to comply with. Julia Roknifard, senior lecturer at the School of Law and Governance, Taylor's University, said the island nation's bid to join the grouping could be a topic during the Asean-Australia dialogue. ALSO READ: Asean balancing act begins She said it was Timor-Leste's turn to accede this year, with matters still being assessed given the vast economic disparity between the country and the rest of Asean. 'So for Papua New Guinea, it will be a long way to accession.' Roknifard said discussions on facilitating Papua New Guinea's membership could centre on the possibility of setting up a commission, as was done during Timor-Leste's bid to join the regional grouping. More importantly, she said Papua New Guinea has 'to satisfy the geographical criteria', with the rest remaining at the discretion of Asean members. 'Papua New Guinea is rich in natural resources and can contribute to commodity exports of Asean. 'It is also home to a population of 10 million, which is a big consumer base,' she said. Political analyst Azmi Hassan said certain South-East Asian countries might not be interested in accepting Papua New Guinea as a full-fledged Asean member, given its proximity to Australia. 'Geographically, Papua New Guinea is not part of South-East Asia, so it will be difficult for them to be accepted wholeheartedly by Asean members.' Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Department Assoc Prof Dr Khoo Ying Hooi also said the island nation's bid 'may not move fast'. 'There will be questions about whether it is ready institutionally, politically and economically to meet Asean standards. 'It is not just about wanting to join, as Asean will look at whether Papua New Guinea fits with the region's dynamics, and whether its inclusion will make consensus even harder to achieve, especially when we are already stuck on big issues like Myanmar,' she said, adding that Papua New Guinea is situated in Oceania and has closer ties within that region. 'While Papua New Guinea's application might be discussed or acknowledged, I don't see any real decision happening soon.' On Saturday, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said Papua New Guinea's bid to join Asean will be discussed at the AMM in Kuala Lumpur. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed support for the move during the 46th Asean Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in May.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
ASEAN foreign ministers gather in KL for 58th AMM meetings
SEPANG: ASEAN foreign ministers continued to arrive in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday evening ahead of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related events. Among the latest arrivals were Timor-Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, who landed at the Bunga Raya Complex at 7.30 pm, and Laos' Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane, who arrived at 8.08 pm. Earlier in the day, Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P. Lazaro touched down at 5.10 pm, followed by Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his wife Vu Thi Bich Ngoc at 5.35 pm. Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and his wife Kokan Sangiampongsa arrived at 8 pm. The 58th AMM, a major annual event in ASEAN's diplomatic calendar, is being hosted by Malaysia under its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability.' The gathering is expected to bring together over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from international organisations to discuss pressing regional and global issues. The meetings, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from July 8 to 11, will focus on strengthening cooperation and advancing security and sustainability initiatives within ASEAN. All ASEAN member states will be represented, except Myanmar, which will send a senior foreign ministry official. Timor-Leste will participate as an observer. This marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing ASEAN, having previously led the bloc in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. The event underscores Malaysia's commitment to fostering regional unity and addressing shared challenges. – Bernama
