Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing visits Cambodia as he seeks to restore ASEAN engagement

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing is making a visit to Cambodia to meet with regional leaders and attempt to reestablish diplomatic ties with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. Critics are concerned this visit may weaken ASEAN's ability to address Myanmar's ongoing conflicts.

Min Aung Hlaing assumed office as president in April following an election that many consider to be rigged, aimed at solidifying the military's grip on power. He has been working to normalize relations with other ASEAN members as part of an effort to regain international standing. This is Min Aung Hlaing's fourth trip to an ASEAN country since taking office, following visits to India, China, Laos, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, and most recently, Vietnam.

The political environment surrounding the visit has been tense. The Khmer Movement for Democracy, an opposition group in Cambodia, has criticized the trip, warning against it becoming a means for Min Aung Hlaing to bypass ASEAN's diplomatic pressure. Human rights group Fortify Rights has also called for Cambodia to cancel the visit and potentially hand Min Aung Hlaing over to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.