Displaced residents flee military raids in Khin-U township in northwestern Myanmar’s Sagaing region, July 16, 2023.

https://apnews.com/article/laos-asean-2024-chair-china-sea-myanmar-32f8e7c97d03e439f8bb91b499e4a824

An AP News article focuses on the rising tensions in the South China Sea and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar as Laos takes over as the ASEAN chairman in 2024. Although expectations are low for Laos to make significant changes, the country attempts to maintain the peace between China and Myanmar to prevent further disputes.

The article highlights two major issues in Southeast Asia: the South China Sea dispute and the conflict in Myanmar. The South China Sea tensions involve nations such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, who disagree with China’s massive claims over the world’s most valued shipping lanes. Then there’s the conflict in Myanmar, which has been chaotic since the military took over in 2021, resulting in civil war and a humanitarian crisis.

A key issue is how smaller countries like Laos manage their leadership role when powerful nations are involved. Laos relies heavily on China for economic support, which makes it difficult for them to have an unbiased perspective on the situation. This is an example of “geopolitical realism,” the idea that a country’s policies are shaped by the more powerful countries around it. Laos owes a lot of money to China and depends on it for infrastructure projects, making it nearly impossible for Laos to act independently.

This is not just a local issue. The South China Sea is a key factor for global trade, and any dispute or challenge can affect shipping worldwide. The internal conflicts in Myanmar create instability in the region, with millions of refugees impacting neighboring nations. The purpose of ASEAN was to encourage peace and collaboration, but the process is hindered when the involved countries cannot agree on their objectives. For example, Myanmar’s government denied ASEAN’s peace proposal, while other countries cannot agree on how to handle the situation.

David Rising, the journalist of this article, has a credible background in covering geopolitical issues in Asia and global conflict zones. Along with his extensive research on this topic, and work in regions like Iraq and Ukraine, it is clear that he has a clear understanding of these issues making his article on the ASEAN’s internal struggles reliable.

This article could be improved by adding visuals, like photos of displaced people from Myanmar or confrontations in the South China Sea, which could make the article more impactful. These types of images can help readers emotionally connect with these complex issues by showing the human side of the conflicts. How these images are presented can change how people feel about the problems, making them seem more personal and urgent.

All in all, Laos’ leadership of ASEAN brings attention to how the influence of powerful countries, economic dependence, and regional peace, affects not only Southeast Asia but the world.