In the first meeting with ASEAN, the US Secretary of State called for action against Myanmar and rejected China’s claims in the South China Sea.

Anthony Brinken, a senior US diplomat, expressed “deep concern” about the military coup in Myanmar and called on Southeast Asian countries to take action to end violence in the country and restore democracy.

Brinken made the call during a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday.

Since the military seized power in a coup d’etat on February 1st and plunged the country into turmoil, ASEAN has been leading its major diplomatic efforts towards member Myanmar.

According to the Political Prisoners Aid Association, at least 902 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people have been displaced in fighting between security forces and newly formed armed groups across Myanmar.

In a video conference with ASEAN foreign ministers on Wednesday, Brinken urged the 10-member group to take “immediate action” on the five-point consensus reached in April, according to a report. statement By the State Council.

The ASEAN plan calls for an end to violence in Myanmar, the start of dialogue between the parties, the expansion of humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas, and the appointment of a special envoy.

The plan-coup leader Ming Anglai agreed-also got backing Russia is the main weapon and training supplier for the Burmese army.

However, the leaders of the coup did not show any intention to implement the plan, but reiterated their own, completely different plan to restore order and democracy in Myanmar.

The lack of action by the military has frustrated the most outspoken members of ASEAN, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. They also demanded the release of detained civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Brinken supported this request on Wednesday, urging ASEAN to take joint action to release all those “unjustly detained” in Myanmar and restore the country’s democratic transition.

The meeting between the US Secretary of State and ASEAN was his first meeting since President Joe Biden took office in January. At the time, diplomats and others worried that Washington was not paying enough attention to the region’s growing regional strategy to combat it. important. China.

The US State Department stated that Brinken on Wednesday reiterated the United States’ commitment to the centrality of ASEAN and emphasized the important role of ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific regional structure.

The statement said that he also continued to emphasize Washington’s rejection of China’s “illegal maritime claims” in the South China Sea, and stated that Washington “stands with Southeast Asian advocates before (China) coercion.”