REGIONAL CONCERNS<\/p>\n
Peace and security remain key priorities at the upcoming summit, where a proposed peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia could mark a significant diplomatic milestone for ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The agreement follows deadly border clashes between the two countries in July that lasted five days.<\/p>\n
Mr Ong said ASEAN\u2019s approach is not to impose peace through force, but to encourage dialogue and mutual compromise.<\/p>\n
The summit is also expected to serve as a platform for advancing peace efforts in Myanmar, which have been in turmoil since the February 2021 military coup that triggered armed resistance and a humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
Myanmar has yet to fully comply with ASEAN\u2019s Five-Point Consensus, the bloc\u2019s agreed roadmap for a peaceful resolution to the political crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Five-Point Consensus of ASEAN is not a washout. It is still a valid document,\u201d said Mr Ong, emphasising that the bloc cannot simply abandon the plan but must instead renew efforts to reinforce it.<\/p>\n
Given limited progress, he suggested involving Myanmar\u2019s neighbours \u2013 including those outside ASEAN \u2013 to coordinate a broader diplomatic approach to ensure peace and stability along shared borders.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeace must prevail, at least along the boundaries of the countries involved with Myanmar,\u201d said Mr Ong, who is also executive deputy chairman at the Nanyang Technological University\u2019s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).<\/p>\n