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Thailand’s Myanmar talks open up diplomatic track ‘parallel’ to Asean’s, deepen regional divide
- Thailand’s unilateral approach has undermined Asean’s centrality principle and the power of the bloc’s chair, Indonesia, to drive inclusive dialogue with Myanmar, observers note
- Delay of joint communique also shows ‘Myanmar fatigue’ and divisions among Asean member states on the Five-Point Consensus
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This week’s set of Asean meetings were seen as an opportunity for the bloc to evaluate its joint efforts in urging Myanmar’s junta to adhere to a pre-established plan for restoring democracy following a 2021 coup in the country.
However, revelations of the extent of Thailand’s unilateral communication with its violence-wracked neighbour’s military rulers underscore a significant regional divide, according to analysts. That schism was further put on display by a delay by Asean in sending out a joint communique, which was released late Thursday, two days after the bloc held its first set of talks for the week.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai on Wednesday said he had met jailed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in prison on Sunday, adding that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told him she “supported dialogue” to end her country’s internal crisis following a coup in February 2021.
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The Thai official – currently serving in a caretaker capacity pending a post-election power transition in his country – described his visit as a “step in the right direction” in the peace process.
Observers who spoke to This Week in Asia sharply disagreed, saying the unilateral approach by Bangkok undermined the so-called Asean centrality principle, in which the bloc as a collective drives decision-making.
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