PH Reiterates Concern on Myanmar Crisis, Assesses Implications of AUKUS Trilateral Security Partnership at ASEAN meeting

Ambassador Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, DFA Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, expressed “grave concern” over the progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus during a recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting ( Photo from the Office of ASEAN Affairs)

PASAY CITY, 05 October 2021 – Acting Undersecretary Lazaro, the Philippines’ Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader to ASEAN, reiterated the Philippines’ call for the swift and complete implementation of the Five-Point Consensus to address the situation in Myanmar, which came out of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting held in April 2021.

She said H.E. Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair, must be accorded unhindered access to all parties concerned, in the spirit of constructive dialogue.

On the enhanced trilateral security partnership among Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, Acting Undersecretary Lazaro echoed Secretary Locsin’s earlier statement that the Philippines sees value in the enhancement of a neighbor’s capability to project power. She said the Philippines believes it will restore and keep the balance in the region, rather than destabilize it.

“We continuously assess this agreement and welcome efforts made by the countries concerned to explain it further,” Acting Undersecretary Lazaro said.

The first initiative under the AUKUS agreement is to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

Acting Undersecretary Lazaro said the Philippines continues to uphold the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty as an important instrument to maintain peace and stability in the region.

“We welcome assurances made by one of our partners that its actions will support the SEANWFZ Treaty and that it will abide by its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” the DFA official said.

Acting Undersecretary Lazaro also spoke on ASEAN’s collective efforts to address the pandemic and its wide-ranging impact during the AMM, the 30th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting, and the 24th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting. END