ASEAN’s Failure on Myanmar Is Not Just Inaction—It’s Enabling a Tragedy

This week, nearly two dozen world leaders are gathering in Kuala Lumpur for the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, taking place from Oct. 26 to 28. The annual East Asia Summit and multiple high-level meetings will also be held on the sidelines.

This year’s gathering carries particular weight. ASEAN will officially welcome East Timor as its 11th member—a symbolic moment for a young democracy that gained independence in 2002 and is home to around 1.4 million people. Leaders from all ASEAN countries are attending, with one absence: Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The summit is also drawing an exceptionally wide circle of global leaders. The presidents, prime ministers and senior representatives of major powers and other key players in the broader Asian region—including the US, China, India, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand—will be present. In addition, leaders from Brazil, Canada and South Africa are in Kuala Lumpur, joined by the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the International Labor Organization and FIFA.