The future of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), an attempt to build a better bridge between Asia and Europe, has been looking uncertain since Burma was admitted into ASEAN in July.
But the implications of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' acceptance of Burma were not clearly spelled out until British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in a speech in Singapore this week that the Burmese would not get visas for the second ASEM in London next year.
The announcement shocked many in Asia. Not because Burma was unwanted - it has long been harshly criticised by Europe over its human rights record and thriving drug trade - but because of the resolve the West showed on the issue.
The response by Malaysian premier, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has blasted the West time and again for trying to keep Burma out of ASEAN, was predictable. If Burma was not invited, there might not be a party.
This would be a serious problem for both regions. Ever since Southeast Asian economies began to feel the effects of sharp falls in their currency values and share values, there have been calls for co-operative efforts to reduce any ill effects on trade and business relations.
At the recent series of ASEAN conferences in Kuala Lumpur, ASEAN foreign ministers and their dialogue partners from Europe were upbeat about ASEM.