Southeast Asian leaders gathered in Indonesia on Tuesday to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and tackle the issue of China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Myanmar has been marred by violence since the military coup in 2021, which toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's government and led to a violent crackdown on dissent. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has struggled to find a unified approach to address the crisis and the issue of China's actions in the South China Sea.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized the need for unity and cooperation among ASEAN members to achieve peace and prosperity in the region. ASEAN has called for the enforcement of a five-point plan to end the violence in Myanmar and restart negotiations. However, the lack of progress and divisions within the bloc have made it challenging to formulate a unified response.

Additionally, China's release of a new official map claiming sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea has further strained relations with Southeast Asian countries. Leaders at the summit expressed concern about China's land reclamations and activities in the disputed waterway and aimed to conclude talks on a code of conduct in the South China Sea by 2026. The summit was followed by the East Asia Summit, which included nations such as the United States, China, Japan, India, and Russia. US Vice President Kamala Harris attended the summit, reaffirming the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.