Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military government, arrived in Thailand on Thursday for a regional summit, according to AP News.
The visit comes as Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that has claimed over 3,000 lives and exacerbated the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Min Aung Hlaing’s participation in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit has drawn sharp criticism from pro-democracy groups and Myanmar’s shadow government. The National Unity Government (NUG), formed by ousted lawmakers, condemned his inclusion, stating he lacks the legitimacy to represent Myanmar.
Thailand, hosting the summit, defended the invitation, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura asserting that the BIMSTEC charter obliges member states to include all leaders. The general was greeted by Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and joined leaders from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for discussions, including disaster response—a pressing issue following the quake.
The earthquake has compounded Myanmar’s existing crises, displacing over 3 million people and leaving nearly 20 million in need even before the disaster, according to UN estimates. Myanmar reported 3,085 confirmed deaths, 4,700 injuries, and 300 missing, with infrastructure in ruins. The tremor also killed at least 22 in Bangkok after a high-rise collapse, underscoring the regional impact.
Shunned by ASEAN since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing’s rare appearance signals Thailand’s pragmatic engagement despite Western sanctions. His last non-aligned trip was to Indonesia in 2021.
