Hla Swe, a former military officer and chair of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Naypyitaw, has said the Philippines—not Myanmar—should withdraw from ASEAN, accusing the bloc’s current chair of interfering in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
He made the remarks on July 9 during a debate in the junta-controlled Union Parliament on ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, the regional peace framework adopted in response to Myanmar’s political crisis.
Hla Swe argued that the Philippines had violated ASEAN’s principle of non-interference by engaging with Myanmar’s opposition groups and resistance forces.
“The Philippines should be the one to leave ASEAN, not Myanmar,” he said, accusing Manila of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs.
The Philippines, which holds the 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, hosted a Myanmar stakeholders’ meeting in Tagaytay in January. According to Reuters, ASEAN Special Envoy Ma. Theresa Lazaro met with stakeholders to discuss reducing violence, expanding humanitarian assistance and promoting political dialogue.
Reuters reported that representatives of the Chin National Front (CNF) and Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) participated in the discussions, a fact later confirmed by Lazaro. Representatives of Myanmar’s military authorities did not attend the meeting.
The parliamentary debate forms part of an ongoing discussion over a motion submitted by the military-backed USDP calling for a review of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, arguing that it no longer reflects Myanmar’s current political situation.
The motion was introduced on June 26 by Dr. Nanda Hla Myint, a USDP representative from Kalaw Township. He argued that the consensus contradicts ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in member states’ internal affairs and is no longer applicable to Myanmar’s political circumstances.
Lawmakers continued debating the proposal through July 8, with the parliamentary speaker announcing that the remaining members would continue discussions on July 9.
The ASEAN Five-Point Consensus was adopted on April 24, 2021, following a special ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, which was attended by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
The framework calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian assistance, and visits by the envoy to Myanmar to meet all relevant stakeholders.
ASEAN has since barred Myanmar’s top military leaders from attending its high-level meetings, citing the junta’s failure to implement the consensus.
Under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the bloc has continued to prioritize the Myanmar crisis. The Philippines hosted the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu on May 8.
According to Reuters, ASEAN Special Envoy Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines does not support the junta-organized election but intends to continue engaging with developments following the vote.
The ongoing parliamentary debate over the future of the Five-Point Consensus is expected to further heighten diplomatic tensions between ASEAN and Myanmar’s military authorities.
