Myanmar junta ‘boycotts’ ASEM talks

27 November 2021
Myanmar junta ‘boycotts’ ASEM talks
A handout photo made available by National Television of Cambodia shows Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (top-L) attending a virtual meeting with ?leaders from Asia and Europe, excluding Myanmar during the 13th Asia Europe meeting (ASEM) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 25 November 2021. Photo: EPA

The Myanmar junta reportedly notified Cambodia this week that it was not going to attend the 13th ASEM Summit, held 25-26 November, saying it would only send a technical team to watch the online talks, according to media sources.

The meeting focused on multilateralism, growth, sustainable development and prosperity of the nations, Kyodo news reports.

ASEM is made up of 30 European Union countries and 21 Asian countries that together account for 60 percent of the world’s population, 60 percent of global GDP, and 60 percent of worldwide trade.

According to observers, the Myanmar junta may be sulking at ASEAN as this is the third time it has not participated in an ASEAN-related summit in recent weeks, following the ASEAN Summit hosted by Brunei last month and an ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit hosted by China on Monday.

ASEAN evicted Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing over the post-coup political turmoil, stating that only a “nonpolitical representative” could be sent to the ASEM since he failed to engage with their efforts to foster talks between all sides in the dispute.

The Myanmar junta has so far failed to adhere to an agreed 5-point ASEAN consensus aimed at attempting to ease the crisis in Myanmar and open up visits by an ASEAN envoy delegated to interact with the junta.