Myanmar: Further diplomatic isolation

As reported by WWR on 25 March 2022, the military regime has been forced to accept diplomatic isolation, as was the case in previous decades. Two new examples of this have been reported in May 2022.

World Watch Research (WWR) analyst Thomas Muller explains: “First, as Radio Free Asia reported on 19 May 2020, Western countries (such as Australia, Germany and the UK) are beginning to downgrade the status of their diplomatic relations with Myanmar to the level of ‘chargés d’affaires’. In most cases this is happening when the ambassador of the country is due for replacement anyway (Radio Free Asia, 19 May 2022). Although this does not mean a complete stop to diplomatic relations, it is a clear signal that these countries are no longer prepared to do ‘business as usual’.”

Thomas Muller continues: “Secondly, as reported by Benar News on 16 May 2022, Malaysia used the opportunity of the US-ASEAN conference in Washington for a meeting between its Foreign Minister and the Foreign Minister of the opposition National Unity Government. This may be the strongest sign yet that Malaysia and potentially some other ASEAN member states are willing to go beyond its traditionally strict policy of non-interference. This can be seen most clearly in the discussions about how to get humanitarian help to the millions of people suffering in Myanmar, particularly those languishing in IDP camps, among them many Christians from ethnic minorities.”

Thomas Muller adds: “Meanwhile, it is more than likely that the true scale of the humanitarian challenge has been under-estimated; according to the ‘Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP Myanmar), more than 5,600 civilians have been killed since the military coup in February 2021 (Radio Free Asia, 17 May 2022). This is more than triple the number that has been widely reported by other organizations.”