In a significant gathering of defense ministers and officials in Jakarta on November 16th, 2023 , representatives from the United States, China, Russia, and Southeast Asia met in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta to address pressing geopolitical issues both within and beyond Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Several prominent figures of authorities such as the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, and China’s Jing Jianfeng met to discuss pressing regional and global issues – such as several ASEAN defense ministers calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as for a lasting solution in Myanmar. Leaders from Myanmar were excluded for this given the seizure of power in a 2021 coup and the Rohingya crisis currently unfolding.
What happened in Myanmar? Following the military coup in February 2021, the Tatmadaw – the military of Myanmar – brutally sought to re-establish control, employing aggressive tactics against civilians. The military, disputing the election results, seized power and suspended democratic institutions. Resistance turned into armed clashes between the military and pro-democracy forces, and rebel army and guerrilla resistance groups were formed as a result. Over 2,000 civilians in Myanmar have been killed since then with tens of thousands more detained by the Tatmadaw.
What is the Rohingya crisis? Since 2017, the government of Myanmar has pursued the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people, triggering an exodus, with Myanmar’s security forces accused of committing acts of genocide against the Rohingya by the United Nations. As they flee and seek refuge in the neighboring country of Bangladesh, Myanmar’s government refuses to grant Rohingya citizenship, rendering them stateless. There are other restrictions and discriminatory policies in place that have been enforced since the 1970s.
Other issues were also discussed during this meeting including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, where Indonesia and Malaysia have jointly called for a ceasefire, with President Joko Widodo (president of Indonesia) personally urging increased U.S. involvement in resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Jakarta meeting of defense ministers and officials brought attention to critical geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the need for collaborative global efforts. The outcomes of this meeting underscore the interconnected nature of global security issues that demand collective solutions and highlight the strengthening relationship between ASEAN leaders and leaders of other prominent regions working towards a common vision.
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-china-southeast-asia-defence-officials-meet-amid-crises-2023-11-16/
https://www.nytimes.com/article/myanmar-news-protests-coup.html
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/rohingya-crisis