Diplomacy over silence

Aretaker Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is garnering praise for his open diplomacy aimed at reengaging with Myanmar.

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Last Wednesday, he formally met his counterpart Than Swe in Phuket. There, Mr Sihasak was quoted by international media as saying that Thailand will serve as a “bridge” to bring Myanmar back into Asean.

The meeting underscores Asean’s effort to find a balance in dealing with Myanmar and the wider world. Notably, he made an official and widely quoted statement clarifying that engagement does not mean Thailand or Asean accepts the outcome of Myanmar’s January elections, in which the military-backed party won in a landslide.

It remains to be seen whether this open diplomacy will soften the military's stubborn stance in Nay Pyi Taw. Just two days earlier, the Myanmar government ordered the head of Timor-Leste’s diplomatic mission — the newest Asean member — to leave the country, after Dili accepted a petition from Myanmar’s Chin State Human Rights Organization (CHRO) accusing the junta of committing genocide since the 2021 coup.