Australia's Wong Urges Myanmar Junta to Alter Course Ahead of Laos Summits

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called on Myanmar's military rulers to change their approach and end the ongoing conflict in the country. Wong made these remarks during regional summits in Laos, emphasizing that the current situation in Myanmar is unsustainable. She urged the junta to follow a five-point consensus peace plan proposed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The conflict in Myanmar has escalated since the military seized power in a coup in 2021, leading to a civil war between the military and a coalition of ethnic minority rebel groups and armed resistance movements. The fighting has displaced an estimated 2.6 million people. The military government has faced international criticism for using excessive force, including air strikes on civilian areas, and has been accused of committing atrocities. Wong's comments come as ASEAN foreign ministers meet to discuss key global issues and potential solutions to the conflict.