As Malaysia takes its turn to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N.), the country faces the complexities of navigating the Myanmar civil war and the rising tensions in the South China Sea. The Myanmar military junta plans for an election later this year, which many criticize as being a sham. Since the coup in 2021, A.S.E.A.N. has created a five-point peace plan (5PC) that has yet to be agreed to by the current military government. Malaysia must also address the heated maritime disputes between the Philippines and China over rights to the South China Sea, a major lane of trade. China maintains it is within their legal rights to operate as they are, while Malaysia, like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, have concerns over China’s operations in the waters. A code of conduct has been in the works, but is slow-moving. 

Malaysia Foreign Ministry Secretary General Amran Mohamed Zin stated, “To say that we will have a solution immediately is going to be very ambitious,” in a media briefing ahead of the A.S.E.A.N. foreign minister’s retreat on Langkawi Island, setting expectations on the Malaysia chairmanship. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia has appointed diplomat Othman Hashim as A.S.E.A.N.’s special envoy to the crisis in Myanmar, who is tasked with implementing the 5PC. Myanmar is among the most underfunded humanitarian response plans, and the crisis has resulted in nearly 20 million people in need of assistance, according to the United Nations’ 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. 

A.S.E.A.N. has rightfully criticized the Myanmar junta’s plan for an election, which is believed to be a pretense to keep the current generals in power. Mitigating the ongoing food insecurities, lack of shelter and clean water, and other infrastructural failures impacting several million people should take precedence. The 5PC, though encouraging cessation of violence, has been largely ineffective. Malaysia should encourage sustained pressure through targeted sanctions and a global arms embargo to press for mediations and reinstating a democracy. For the South China Sea, addressing the code of conduct is critical to preventing further tensions. There have been numerous confrontations, particularly between China and the Philippines, raising concerns of potential armed conflict. A.S.E.A.N. should continue its commitment to peaceful negotiation through an extended code of conduct that addresses its international scope. 

The South China Sea hosts $3.37 trillion (U.S.D.) worth of trade passing through its waters, nearly a third of the world’s maritime trade. China continues to assert its presence in the waters, leading to a 2024 boat collision between Chinese and Filipino ships, with both claiming the other was operating illegally. Despite international law invalidating China’s nine-dash line map, the competing claims of sovereignty, economic importance, and involvement of Western actors like the U.S. has expanded it from a regional to a broader international concern. As chair of A.S.E.A.N., Malaysia will be charged with drafting an agreeable expanded code of conduct, in addition to managing the Myanmar crisis as the junta weakens. The international response to Myanmar’s situation has been underwhelming, noted by the lack of humanitarian funding from the United Nations. The Myanmar military generals have been barred from A.S.E.A.N. meetings since 2022, but the organization has yet to make formal connections with the National Unity Government, who lead most of the resistance. 

The challenges faced by Malaysia as it chairs A.S.E.A.N. will have a profound impact on the region’s stability. The failure to resolve the Myanmar crisis risks compounding an already devastating humanitarian disaster. Without effective mediation and the strict enforcement of a peace process, Myanmar’s internal conflict could undermine A.S.E.A.N.’s credibility as a regional organization. Similarly, the unresolved tensions in the South China Sea threaten not just regional security but global economic stability, given the critical importance of the sea lanes for trade. If Malaysia can successfully push for a clear and enforceable code of conduct, it could set a vital precedent for upholding international law in the face of great power assertiveness. However, failure to do so could embolden unilateral actions that escalate conflicts and draw in outside powers, risking militarization and further escalations. Malaysia’s leadership in these matters is pivotal, and its ability to navigate these crises will define A.S.E.A.N.’s ability in multilaterally creating peace and security.