Southeast Asia top diplomats condemn Myanmar violence, urge peaceful means to settle sea disputes

VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Southeast Asian top diplomats on Saturday condemned violence in Myanmar's ongoing civil war and urged for “practical” means to defuse rising tensions in the South China Sea during the last of the three-day regional talks with allies including the U.S., Russia and China.

Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), hailed dialogue partners for “frank, candid and constructive exchanges” on key issues revolving around regional security.

The weekend talks in the Laotian capital were dominated by the increasingly violent and destabilizing civil war in ASEAN-member Myanmar as well as maritime disputes of some of the bloc members with China, which have led to direct confrontations that many worry could lead to broader conflict.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the talks, the bloc said there’s an urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, and called for “all relevant parties in Myanmar to ensure the safe and transparent delivery of humanitarian assistance, to the people in Myanmar without discrimination.”

“We strongly condemned the continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities and called for immediate cessation, and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence,” it said.

The army in Myanmar ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule, leading to increasing violence and a humanitarian crisis.

Thailand, which shares long borders with Myanmar, said it was given ASEAN backing to play a wider role there, including in providing humanitarian assistance in which it’s already heavily involved. It also said more peace talks have been proposed to include additional stakeholders, especially Myanmar’s neighbors Thailand, China and India.

More than 5,400 people have been killed in the fighting in Myanmar and the military government has arrested more than 27,000 since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. There are now more than 3 million displaced people in the country, with the numbers growing daily as fighting intensifies between the military and Myanmar’s multiple ethnic militias as well as the so-called people’s defense forces of military opponents.

ASEAN has been pushing a “five-point consensus” for peace, but the military leadership in Myanmar has so far ignored the plan, raising questions about the bloc’s efficiency and credibility. The peace plan calls for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.

The meetings also served to highlight rivalries in the region as the U.S. and China look to expand their influence there. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Vientiane on Saturday after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held direct talks with Wang on Thursday. Washington’s two biggest rivals, Moscow and Beijing, which have grown closer over the past two years, prompting deep concerns about their combined global influence.

Regarding tensions in the South China Sea, ASEAN said it maintains its position on the freedom of navigation over the sea and urged a full implementation of a South China Sea code of conduct, which the bloc has been working on with China for some time.

ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have conflicts with China over its claim of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most crucial waterways for shipping. Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.

ASEAN foreign ministers also welcomed “practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculation,” in an apparent reference to a rare deal between the Philippines and China that aims to end their confrontations, establish a mutually acceptable arrangement for the disputed area without conceding each other’s territorial claims.

Prior to the deal, tensions between the Philippines and China escalated for months, with China’s coast guard and other forces using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Filipino navy personnel.

On Saturday, the Philippines said it was able to make a supply trip to the disputed area without having to confront Beijing’s forces, the first such trip since the deal was reached a week ago. Blinken applauded it as a success in his opening remarks at the meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, while calling China’s past actions against the Philippines — a U.S. treaty partner — “escalatory and unlawful.”

The United States and its allies have regularly conducted military exercises and patrols in the area to assert their “free and open Indo-Pacific” policy — including the right to navigate in international waters — which has drawn criticism from China.

Wang said in his meeting with Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo on Friday that the deployment of a U.S. intermediate-range missile system in the Philippines would create regional tension and trigger an arms race, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Associated Press journalist Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, attends the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joy, right, talk before the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, second right, on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar attends the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, gestures to Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, right, hold a talk on the sideline of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, attends the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, left, and Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joy, right, walk behind North Korea's Ambassador to Laos Ri Yong Chol, bottom center, before the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, attends the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, right, attend during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, right, talks with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, left, during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, right, during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, shakes hands with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, right, during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, center, talks with New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, right, during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar, left, and South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, right, during the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith during ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrives at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, talks with Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith during ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

From left, Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Cambodia Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea, South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul, Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet and Myanmar Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Aung Kyaw Moe pose for photos at the 12th Mekong-South Korea Foreign Ministers event during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith during ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Vientiane, Laos, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Quintana extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 22 2/3 innings and Brandon Nimmo’s three-run homer capped a nine-run fourth as the surging New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 10-0 on Wednesday night to finish a three-game sweep.

Luisangel Acuña homered again for the Mets (84-68), who moved a season-high 16 games above .500 and remained tied with Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards — two games ahead of Atlanta for the league’s last playoff spot.

“I’m pretty much convinced now we’re not in the regular season anymore,” Nimmo said. “We’re in playoff baseball and every win is extremely important. It decides whether we keep playing or not.”

Acuña, Mark Vientos and Starling Marte each drove in two runs as the Mets followed a 10-1 victory Tuesday night with another blowout of Washington. New York finished 11-2 against the Nationals this season, its best record against one opponent since going 10-1 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988.

“We’re close to the finish of the season and we’re in good position,” Quintana said. “We feel really strong.”

Quintana (10-9) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four in seven innings to complete his season-long dominance of the Nationals, whom he blanked over 21 innings in three starts — the most innings a Mets pitcher has thrown in a season without allowing a run against an opponent in franchise history.

“He doesn’t throw many balls right over the heart of the plate,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He nibbles a lot, but you’ve got to get up there and be ready to hit when it does come over the plate.”

Quintana hasn’t allowed a run since the third inning against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 31. His previous career-best scoreless streak was 20 2/3 innings in 2014.

The veteran left-hander has won four straight outings and permitted one earned run in 32 innings over his last five starts for a 0.28 ERA during that span.

“He’s been in the league for a long time and there’s a reason why,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He knows that you’re going to go through stretches where it’s hard. And he’ll continue to find a way. It’s just basically trusting his pitches, his repertoire, in the strike zone.”

The Mets sent 12 batters to the plate against DJ Herz (4-8) and Jacob Barnes in the fourth, when they had their biggest inning since a nine-run fourth against Toronto on Sept. 11, 2020. Tyrone Taylor opened the scoring with an RBI double and Vientos — mired in 0-for-15 and 3-for-39 slumps — laced a two-run single before Acuña and Marte had run-scoring hits.

Nimmo followed Marte by hitting his second homer since Aug. 20, a 419-foot drive into the Nationals’ bullpen in right-center field. The outfielder had three potential homers sail just foul of the right-field pole in the Mets’ previous four home games.

“It was funny, Steve Cohen actually told me, ‘Hey, that one you finally kept fair,'” Nimmo said with a laugh, referring to the Mets’ owner. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, that one had no danger of being around the foul pole.’”

Acuña homered in the eighth — his second in two nights. A younger brother of reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., the 22-year-old infielder is 7 for 15 in his first five big league games.

CJ Abrams had two of the Nationals’ three hits. Herz allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: 2B Luis García Jr. (right wrist) didn’t play. He exited Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning after aggravating a chronic injury. … RHP Trevor Williams (flexor strain) is expected to come off the 60-day injured list and start Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Williams last pitched on May 30.

Mets: SS Francisco Lindor (sore back) missed his third straight game but played catch and ran Wednesday afternoon. … Rookie RHP Christian Scott (right elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery with an internal brace added next week and will likely be out until 2026. Scott was 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in nine starts before being injured in his final start July 21. … RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf), eligible to come off the 60-day injured list next Wednesday, plans to pitch for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend and could still pitch as an opener for the Mets over the final five days of the regular season. … RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal leak in back) threw for the first time since making a rehab start Sept. 3 and hopes to pitch for the Mets next week. … INF Brett Baty (broken left index finger) went 0 for 4 with Syracuse in his first game action since Aug. 22. Mendoza said Baty could be a candidate for a recall by the Mets.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Continue their final road trip Thursday, when LHP Patrick Corbin (6-13, 5.45 ERA) opens a four-game series against RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.27) and the Chicago Cubs.

Mets: RHP Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77 ERA) starts Thursday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, who counter with ex-Mets RHP Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29).

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Washington Nationals' DJ Herz pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reacts after grounding out Washington Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias, left, and Brandon Nimmo, react after Nimmo hit a home run leading Iglesias and Starling Marte to score during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

From left, New York Mets' Luis Severino, Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias, and Brandon Nimmo pose with a sign after Nimmo hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo, right, slides to home plate to score on a double hit by Tyrone Taylor as Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas, left, attempts to ground him out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Harrison Bader, left, Brandon Nimmo, center, and Luisangel Acuna, right, react after Bader and Acuna scored on a single hit by Starling Marte during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jesse Winker, left, Luisangel Acuna, center, and Luis Severino, right, pose with a sign after Acuna hit a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jose Quintana pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)