Is ASEAN defence diplomacy key to resolving the humanitarian situation in Myanmar?

Abstract

ASEAN has been criticised for its response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. The grouping’s institutional design and existing conventions restrict opportunities for robust action. Myanmar’s military (known as the ‘Tatmadaw’) is the key element to finding a durable solution to the crisis, yet most Western militaries are disengaging with it. ASEAN defence diplomacy could fill this gap, contribute to a whole-of-ASEAN approach and provide a critical avenue for progress.