SYNOPSIS Cambodia’s upcoming chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022 falls at a time when three major issues will dominate the ASEAN agenda: (i) the Myanmar crisis, (ii) the South China Sea disputes and Code of Conduct negotiations, and (iii) the Covid-19 pandemic. [...] The Myanmar Issue Major obstacles remain in the peace and reconciliation process in Myanmar despite the efforts made by ASEAN over the past few months since the military coup of February 2021. [...] South China Sea Disputes Since Cambodia has no claims in the South China Sea, it is uncertain whether Phnom Penh will place the South China Sea disputes at the same level of priority on the ASEAN agenda as the Myanmar issue. [...] The Pandemic Given the uncertainty of how the Covid-19 pandemic will pan out in 2022, the reopening of borders among ASEAN member states will be another key policy challenge that Cambodia has to face as ASEAN chair. [...] It also remains uncertain what impact the likely spread of the Omicron variant of the virus will have on the region as Southeast Asian states seek to strike a balance between protecting the lives of their citizens and safeguarding their livelihoods by reopening their economies.
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