Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations opened their annual meeting in Manila on Monday, with Myanmar's possible return to full participation dominating the agenda of the 59th ministerial gathering, which runs through July 24 and draws delegates from more than 50 countries.
Thailand has proposed readmitting Myanmar following the junta's establishment in April, but member states remain divided over the military government's failure to implement a five-point peace plan. Myanmar, suspended from high-level ASEAN participation since the 2021 coup, was represented by a non-political deputy foreign minister. The bloc hopes to eventually restore full ministerial and leadership representation. Diplomatic momentum built after Indonesia and Malaysia sent foreign ministers to Myanmar in May and June, and Myanmar's foreign minister attended an informal session in Bangkok on July 12.
Min Aung Hlaing recently granted clemency to Aung San Suu Kyi and others, with Suu Kyi reportedly moved to house arrest. Ministers from China, the United States, Japan, and Russia are also attending the wider talks.