ASEAN's Myanmar rift highlighted as key members skip meeting

Indonesia, Malaysia and others absent from Thailand-hosted gathering

ASEAN leaders pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony for a series of summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov. 11. © Reuters

YOHEI MURAMATSU, Nikkei staff writer

December 23, 2022 03:08 JST

BANGKOK -- Foreign ministers from five of ASEAN's 10 members met here Thursday to discuss recent developments in Myanmar, even as the rest skipped the meeting amid differing stances on the country's military rule.

Thailand, whose armed forces have strong ties to their counterparts in Myanmar, hosted the unofficial gathering with Myanmar's military-appointed Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin. Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos also attended.