WASHINGTON DC: Asean leaders stood firm on several international issues during their meeting with US President Joe Biden at the Asean-US Special Summit here over the past week.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Asean leaders also took a common stand during the discussions on Russia-Ukraine and South China Sea issues.
Asean wanted the Russia-Ukraine crisis to be resolved through negotiations, he told Malaysian media after attending the final session of the two-day special summit with Biden and Asean leaders.
“War does not benefit anyone. In fact, many would suffer great losses because of the war,” he said yesterday, reported Bernama.
In this context, Malaysia, he said, feels that the United States should use its influence to help resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Ismail Sabri said Malaysia pointed out that South-East Asian countries were also affected by the war, especially in terms of rising inflation and food prices, hence the call for the crisis to be resolved through peaceful means.
On Feb 24, Russia launched an invasion on Ukraine, days after the Kremlin recognised the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
Touching on the South China Sea issue, the Prime Minister said Asean was also firm in its stand that the waterway should be free from outside interference.
“The South China Sea must remain free in line with the Freedom of Navigation which is an international law (of the sea). Any conflict in the area will affect global supply chains,” he said.
The Malaysian leader also called on all countries to respect Asean’s stand on the matter.
China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam are the claimants for most or part of the natural resources-rich South China Sea, and the issues have not been resolved for decades.
“Asean solidarity on international issues was obvious during the discussion with President Biden. The Asean principles of Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality were perfectly translated during the meeting,” Ismail Sabri said.
He said he had also raised the Palestinian issue during the meeting and called for Washington to use its influence in resolving the issue.
“Israeli atrocities must be stopped. The United States must be honest in resolving the issue.
“If the United States can take swift action in Ukraine, we want the same swift action to be taken on the Palestinian issue,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said another issue that was raised at the meeting was the Myanmar issue and the need for the Five-Point Consensus to be observed in resolving the conflict.
The meeting was attended by all Asean leaders except from Myanmar and the Philippines.
Myanmar was not invited while the Philippines is in the midst of a general election.
The leaders who attended the summit were Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Laos Prime Minister Dr Phankham Viphavanh were also in attendance.
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