Myanmar crisis overshadowed as major powers’ focus on Taiwan, China-US rivalry and Middle East tensions

Mizzima

A major annual world defence conference held in Singapore over the weekend failed to get to grips with the serious crisis in Myanmar.

Widely recognised as Asia’s premier defence summit, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is said to be a unique meeting where ministers debate the region’s most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together. It was held from 29 to 31 May and included speakers from major countries around the world.

Myanmar low-key

Centre-stage was the balance of power between the United States and China, according to observers. Myanmar was not a major standalone agenda item in public sessions. However, discussions about ASEAN cohesion, regional stability, humanitarian crises, transnational crime, and strategic competition all indirectly affect Myanmar.

The summit’s emphasis on ASEAN centrality was significant because Myanmar continues to challenge ASEAN’s diplomatic credibility and consensus-building efforts. ASEAN’s ability to manage regional crises is being viewed alongside broader security questions in the Indo-Pacific.

Several discussions focused on illicit maritime activity, sanctions evasion networks, cyber threats, and transnational criminal operations. These issues are relevant to Myanmar because regional governments increasingly link instability, arms trafficking, narcotics production, cybercrime hubs, and illicit financial flows to broader regional security concerns. Myanmar has been in the spotlight over these issues.

Myanmar remains a black sheep for ASEAN following the 2021 military coup and civil war, given its failure to adhere to the agreed 5-Point Consensus and efforts by the junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to wrap his regime in civilian garb following the 2025-26 elections that gave him the presidency – while Myanmar’s democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under “house arrest”.

US-China relations

What is clear from the Shangri-La Dialogue meetings is the central strategic issue remains the balance of power between the United States and China. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the gathering, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Indo-Pacific security but adopted a less confrontational tone toward Beijing following recent US-China diplomatic engagement, with US President Donald Trump holding talks in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, concerns over China’s military modernization, maritime activities, and regional influence remain prominent.

Several regional governments are questioning whether the US can simultaneously sustain commitments in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, leading to increased discussion of strategic hedging and defense diversification.

Taiwan and maritime security

Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive issues discussed at the meeting. Regional officials continue to focus on deterrence, military preparedness, and the risks of escalation in the Taiwan Strait. Maritime security discussions are centered on freedom of navigation, the South China Sea, and enforcement of international law.

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles warned that undersea infrastructure is becoming a new strategic battleground, citing repeated incidents involving damaged submarine cables in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere.

AUKUS and military technology

AUKUS, a strategic partnership, remained a major focus. The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom announced new cooperation on advanced uncrewed undersea vehicle technologies and maritime surveillance systems. Discussions emphasize maintaining military advantages in the Indo-Pacific and protecting critical undersea infrastructure.

Middle East conflict

Meanwhile, the US-Israel Iran war and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz affected discussions. Many countries in Asia, including Myanmar, have been badly impacted by the war’s effects on fuel and fertilizer supplies. Myanmar’s economy and its public have been seriously affected by higher prices and restrictions. Many Asian countries are concerned that US military resources may become overstretched, potentially weakening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Energy security and supply-chain vulnerability are recurring themes.

ASEAN centrality and strategic balance

ASEAN was still an important discussion point. Vietnamese leader To Lam used his keynote address to call for responsible behavior by major powers, respect for international law, and avoidance of confrontation. His remarks reflected broader ASEAN concerns about being caught between competing great powers while preserving regional stability and autonomy.

The strongest story emerging from the Shangri-La Dialogue is not a direct Myanmar development but a widening regional concern that Indo-Pacific security is entering a more volatile phase. Competition between Washington and Beijing, uncertainty about US commitments, maritime tensions, and technological militarization have been dominating discussions.

What was clear is strategic competition may reduce attention on Myanmar as the country increasingly sits within a larger regional security framework rather than at the centre of diplomatic attention.

A notable undercurrent is that Taiwan, China-US competition, AUKUS, and Middle East developments are consuming much of the strategic attention of major powers. This may further reduce high-level international focus on Myanmar despite continuing conflict, humanitarian needs and the controversy over the legitimacy of Min Aung Hlaing’s quasi-civilian military administration.

Sources: Mizzima, AP, Asia Times, The Australian, Guardian