Thailand will host an informal Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting this week to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and review progress on the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan aimed at resolving the country’s civil war, Bloomberg reports.
The meeting, bringing together foreign ministers from interested ASEAN member states, will focus on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and chart a path forward. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will be in attendance, according to a statement released Monday by the Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nikorndej Balankura.
Thailand’s leading role in mediating the Myanmar crisis stems from its shared border with Myanmar and significant energy imports from the country. The escalating conflict between the military junta and various ethnic armed organizations and pro-democracy groups has led to periodic influxes of refugees seeking shelter along the Thai border, posing challenges for Thai authorities.
In a related development, Bangkok will host a separate six-nation informal meeting on Wednesday focusing on border security and transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking and online scams. Participants will include China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and Myanmar. The Thai Foreign Ministry highlights this meeting as evidence of Thailand’s commitment to fostering cooperation on regional issues.
The ASEAN meeting comes after Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, visited China last month seeking support amidst reports of growing Chinese impatience with the ongoing conflict, which is negatively impacting Chinese economic and business interests in Myanmar. Recent attacks, such as the October bombing of the Chinese consulate in Mandalay, underscore the escalating violence.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reports that over 6,000 civilians have been killed since the 2021 coup, with approximately 21,000 remaining in junta detention.
