CEBU: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations does not recognise the recently held elections in Myanmar, the first since the army seized power in 2021, the Philippine foreign secretary said Thursday (Jan 29). ASEAN’s non-recognition of the elections in Myanmar, which a military-backed party claimed to have won, is a major blow to efforts by the country’s military rulers to gain international recognition. The regional bloc, whose 11 members include Myanmar, has refused to recognise the military-ruled government since the army forcibly wrested power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021. Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party claimed Monday that it had won the elections. Critics say the elections were neither free nor fair, but were an effort to legitimise military rule after its forcible seizure of power.