• The question of the militarization of ASEAN

• The issue of the Myanmar crisis 

Last week, I had a chance to meet my committee mentor, Ms. Le, to discuss about some key factors of the upcoming November MUN conference. We have had some inspiring conversations, and here is what it was about: 

First, we discussed about how to keep the delegates engaged in the meeting despite long debate time and limited amounts of break, as I have gone through the same issue back in last year’s November conference, where delegates used moderative caucus just to have conversations that are not related to the debate topic.  Her response was that if I could assign people separate roles for the debate, such as speaker, presenter, researcher and so on, we could make the process way more efficient. Not only that, she also suggested that even though getting friends with people may be good for us as person. Getting too familiar with each other could cause problems laterr on, which happened to me last time in the March conference, where a delegate signed me up to dance with her for the open mic…

Next, I asked her about How delegates can have a fruitful debate but still respect each other as the debate can sometimes get heated and people start disrespecting each other. She told me that as a chair, we should try our best to keep people in harmony, but if we can’t handle the situation anymore, we should ask for help from adults. However, being a mediator is the role as a chair, which is why I should listen to both sides, agree upon their idea and come to a consensus. 

Last but not least, I asked her what advice she would like to give to the delegates of the ASEAN committee. And her response was to enjoy the experience and use it as an opportunity to fulfill each other’s knowledge as global citizen. She also presented her life as a mother of two children and how she would like them to grow as global citizens, which is why she would attend MUN with her kids too. Finally, she mentioned that Vietnam, the country we currently live in, is part of the ASEAN community, so please try your best effort to make Vietnam a better place. 

Thank you so much for your time and inspirational meetings Ms.Le!

Honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests.

My name is Park Sohyeon, and I am honored to serve as the Head Chair for this year's UNISMUN conference ASEAN committee. I am in my senior year at Singapore International School Gamuda Gardens, and this will be my fifth UNISMUN conference and second as a chair. 

This conference's theme is "The Role of Sovereignty in Diplomacy Towards International Responsibility." Sovereignty refers to the independence of the nation from others but poses the question as to how we can be held accountable as an international community. Today's diplomacy does not simply appeal to nations to defend their own interests but to cooperate for peace, stability, and common development.

ASEAN—Association of Southeast Asian Nations—is precisely such a balance of national sovereignty and state cooperation on a regional scale. ASEAN is a symbol of cooperation between various states who wish to be in dialogue, peace, and respect with each other. ASEAN member states cooperate to resolve conflicts, expand economic relationships, and enhance collective security without compromise.

These two pressing issues of ASEAN values and challenges will be tackled here by our committee: the militarization of the ASEAN issue and the Myanmar crisis issue. 

The first topic looks at how regional defense advances, and the attached high-level military cooperation, could potentially alter or influence ASEAN’s long-standing principles of neutrality and stability. Delegates are encouraged to reflect on the idea that having a deeper collective defense could enhance regional security but could also increase tension amongst member state.

The second topic looks at how ASEAN could respond to political and humanitarian crises as it relates to Myanmar but at the same time, maintaining respect for sovereignty and non-interference. Delegates will be prompted to think outside the box and politically in regards to how to balance ASEAN unity with the responsibility to protect human dignity and peace aspects of the region

As the Head Chair, I will strive to offer help and all the support that I can provide so that the delegates have an enjoyable and successful experience throughout this conference. I hope this opportunity inspires us all to engage in thoughtful discussion reflecting respect, critical inquiry. I look forward to your thoughtfulness and contributions during the conference and look forward to meeting all of you.

See you all in the November conference.

Honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests. 

My name is Joonhoo, a sophomore who’s going through his 5th conference as a chair, with just as much passion as when I first entered the world of MUN. The ASEAN committee, as part of the 2025 November Conference, will play a crucial role in achieving the main theme : The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility. 

We live in a world where every nation’s sovereignty is strongly upheld and respected by the international community. As a representative body of Southeast Asian countries, ASEAN carries a significant responsibility to promote fair, objective, and widely recognized agreements that safeguard global peace. As chair of this committee, I feel both a deep sense of commitment and the weight of responsibility to ensure a productive and meaningful debate this November. 

Our council aims to discuss 2 crucial topics, which are the question of the militarization of ASEAN and the issue of the Myanmar crisis. The militarization of ASEAN and the Myanmar crisis both show how sovereignty and international responsibility are connected in diplomacy. For militarization, each ASEAN country has the right to control its own military, but if countries build up too much power, it can create tension and threaten peace in the region. This shows that sovereignty must be balanced with the responsibility to maintain stability. 

In the case of Myanmar, the citizens are under serious threats of losing their public voices to fight against the inequalities. Their democratic identities are fading away and instead, only coups and dictatorships remain. Myanmar’s government frames the coup and its internal repression as matters of national sovereignty, yet the widespread human rights abuses and refugee flows demand action from the broader international community, including ASEAN. Members of the ASEAN committees will dig in deeper with this issue to not only ensure social justice, but also the mitigation of the internal conflict of Myanmar to take a step closer to world peace. 

To achieve World peace, listening to every delegate’s opinion is crucial. Or else, we are depriving the world of the delegates who will create from ideas they come up with in this year’s debate. As a chair, I will make our committee the most interactive, idealized, and passionate committee of this year’s MUN, as I will also put my best effort to embody my promise. 

Thank you, and see you in November. 

Joonhoo. 

Honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests,

I'm Mia Le Whatley, your Procedural Chair for this conference, and I’m thrilled to be guiding you through what promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking debates. I am a freshman at the United Nations International School of Hanoi. I’m currently studying abnormal psychology in my own time and am passionate about understanding the complexities of human behavior; a curiosity that extends into diplomacy, international relations, and global cooperation. 

My MUN journey has been a rewarding one — from delegating for the first time November of last year, traveling as a representative of our UNISMUN community, to chairing once again and serving as Deputy Secretary General for the March 2025 Conference. Each role has deepened my love for the art of diplomacy and the power of youth-led dialogue, each being an eye opening experience as I continue to learn and grow along side you. This is my third UNISMUN conference, my second time chairing, and my first high school MUN conference, I hope to make many memories with you all.

This year’s theme, “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility,” could not be more timely. As you navigate the push and pull between national interest and regional or global accountability, I urge you to think critically and compassionately. Remember to keep in your countries best interests and create powerful alliances along with inspiring speeches.

This committee is a unique forum that tackles the regionally rooted issues that impact globally. From the Militarization of ASEAN which raises urgent questions about peace security, and trust to the Crisis of Myanmar which continues to challenge our moral and diplomatic responsibility. While ASEAN is not a military alliance, it is a regional BLOC of sovereign nations. For the first topic delegates are highly encouraged to look into ASEAN’s treaty of Amity and Cooperation and recent developments in the South China Sea; specifically, Article 2 which states key principles.

As for the second topic, the Myanmar crisis, is deeply rooted in the idea of international responsibility, ASEAN has struggled to find a balance between respecting Myanmar's sovereignty and responding to multiple serious human rights abuses. Delegates are highly encouraged to explore the the Five-Point Consensus and ASEAN’s current position.

I hope you come to the conference with curiosity, empathy, confidence and a willingness to challenge. Debate boldly, listen actively, and never doubt your impact. I cannot fathom how ecstatic I am to be chairing for such a great, diverse committee. 

Warm Regards,

Mia Le-Whatley