The ASEAN summit hosted virtually by Brunei Darussalam has begun without presence of representative from Myanmar

Brunei Darussalam hosts the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits held virtually via videoconference. In an unprecedented move, the bloc has excluded Myanmar’s military leader, who seized power in February, from attendance and instead has invited a “non-political” representative from the country.

Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government on Sunday announced the appointment of U Bo Hla Tint as its representative to ASEAN. U Bo Hla Tint served as foreign minister in the former National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Sen, today told ASEAN heads of state that Burma only had itself to blame in rejecting an opportunity provided to it by ASEAN to send a non-political representative, openly stating that the “Myanmar military is not cooperating with ASEAN”.

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President Biden Today, I participated in the annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit, where I discussed our commitment to strengthening our partnership with ASEAN. We will continue to work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic, address the climate crisis, promote economic growth, and more.

Aaron Connelly President Biden at this evening’s U.S.-ASEAN Summit, one of several ASEAN+1 Summits this week. (ASEAN hosted an ASEAN-China Summit earlier in the day). Note the placeholder bottom right, where Myanmar’s video feed would have been had they not boycotted all the summits.