B2 – Upper Intermediate
The ASEAN 2023 is hosted by Indonesia. The summit’s agenda include the ongoing violent civil conflicts in Myanmar and the intensifying territorial disputes in the South China Sea among its member states.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo believes hosting the ASEAN Summit is a ‘good moment’ for his country and the perfect opportunity to put the rustic harbor town Labuan Bajo on the map.
In spite of the many challenges they are facing in pushing for the success of the Summit, Indonesian officials say they would do everything they can in order to host the ASEAN in the safest and most successful way possible.
Read the article about the ASEAN meeting and its agenda peppered with controversial issues; and some hitches to holding the Summit in the picturesque town of Labuan Bajo.
https://www.voanews.com/a/asean-leaders-to-tackle-regional-crises-st-tropical-resort-/7083266.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “rein in” mean? “ASEAN has failed to rein in the violence in its member state.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.
- What is a “strife“? “These include the continuing bloody civil strife in Myanmar and the escalating territorial conflicts in the South China Sea between fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.” Give 1-2 synonym/s of ‘strife’ and use the word in your own sentence.
- What does “megaphone diplomacy approach” mean? “Colleagues certainly know that in the early stages of its leadership, Indonesia decided to take a non-megaphone diplomacy approach.” Use this term in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on President Widodo’s choice of the ASEAN Summit venue? Do you think it will really help put Labuan Bajo “under the global tourism spotlight”? Share your thoughts.
- What are some problems with holding the ASEAN meeting in this town?
- What is your opinion on this: “The sunshiny setting is a stark contrast to the seriousness of their agenda.”?
- Discuss your thoughts on this: “U.S. President Joe Biden has been reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China over Taiwan and the long-seething territorial conflicts in the strategic South China Sea which involve four ASEAN members: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.”.
- Do you agree or disagree with Indonesia’s non-megaphone diplomacy approach when it comes to how they tackled the Myanmar crisis?