Myanmar’s military regime leaders remain barred from the 49th ASEAN summit, which takes place in Manila from 15 November to 17 November 2026.
The Philippines confirmed the decision, maintaining a regional exclusion policy initiated after the 2021 military coup.
The regime will not participate at the head-of-government or ministerial level, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Instead, Myanmar will be represented by the Director-General of its ASEAN affairs department.
The decision follows warnings from rights groups against legitimizing a regime that continues to oversee widespread violence. The junta is currently engaged in an escalating military campaign that has left over 4 million people displaced. Nearly 23,000 political prisoners remain in detention, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
“We welcome this official confirmation that there is no place [at the summit] for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing,” said Khin Ohmar, founder of the Progressive Voice human rights foundation. “ASEAN made the right decision in line with its principles. We have been demanding that no junta member be permitted to join the summit.”
Pressure to Uphold the Five-Point Consensus
The regional bloc's stance follows criticism regarding the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), a peace plan agreed upon in 2021 that the Myanmar junta has largely ignored before formally rejecting it in a July 2026 vote by its rubber-stamp parliament. ASEAN members began bilateral engagement with the regime after it rebranded in civilian clothing in April following elections widely condemned as a sham.
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) urged the bloc to strengthen its accountability measures. APHR urged ASEAN leaders to adopt “measurable benchmarks for compliance” with the 5PC, alongside “a series of escalating punitive steps” if the junta continues to defy the peace plan.
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has maintained that the 5PC “was and remains valid”, though ASEAN needs to see “demonstrable progress.” He identified three critical areas: an end to violence against civilians, the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi, and humanitarian assistance reaching people across the country regardless of political allegiance.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has also urged Naypyidaw to do more while pursuing a calibrated re-engagement strategy.
Malaysia Discusses Myanmar Citizen Repatriation with Min Aung Hlaing
Malaysia is among the ASEAN countries that have begun engaging with Min Aung Hlaing following his government’s rebranding in April. During his visit to Kuala Lumpur on 7 October, Min Aung Hlaing met with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The discussions in Kuala Lumpur focused on the repatriation of Myanmar citizens. Malaysia said that approximately 5,000 Myanmar nationals had agreed to voluntary repatriation, with nearly 1,500 having returned to Myanmar by 4 October. The Malaysian government indicated that talks would cover the return of individuals from all ethnic groups in a manner described as voluntary, dignified and safe.
However, the United Nations and human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns regarding the risks these individuals face upon returning to a country still embroiled in civil war. The conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million, involves the military, ethnic armed organizations, and People’s Defence Forces operating in a highly fragmented environment.
APHR raised alarm over Malaysia “breaking ranks” by accepting Min Aung Hlaing as president and over Anwar Ibrahim’s public pledge to work toward bringing Myanmar back into the ASEAN fold at the heads-of-government level. The delegation urged ASEAN to engage instead with Myanmar’s democratic forces, which are more cohesive today than at any point since the coup.
While some nations advocate for maintaining diplomatic channels, Singapore has made it clear that current Myanmar leaders cannot attend high-level ASEAN meetings without “meaningful progress.” As the bloc navigates these tensions, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has agreed to formally convey the APHR’s letter to the Special Envoy and President Marcos, underscoring that the bloc’s credibility rests on its commitment to the people of Myanmar.