Philippines to meet Myanmar ethnic groups

Philippine Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa Lazaro has announced plans to meet ethnic groups from Myanmar in the coming days, as Manila seeks to play a more active role in addressing the country’s ongoing crisis.

Speaking at a forum in Tokyo organised by Nikkei, Lazaro said she wanted to “find out the situation and how we can really try to help.” She did not specify which groups she would meet or where the talks would take place, adding only: “We’ll see how it works.”

The Philippines currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Lazaro as his special envoy to Myanmar. Her initiative comes as the bloc struggles to balance pressure on Myanmar’s military‑backed government with efforts to re‑engage after years of isolation.

Myanmar has been mired in conflict since the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. Protests were crushed by the military, sparking a civil war involving ethnic militias and pro‑democracy forces. The junta’s leaders have since been barred from ASEAN’s top meetings, though a new, nominally civilian government installed in April has signalled its desire to normalise ties.

In January, Manila convened a “stakeholders’ meeting” that brought together several ethnic rebel groups to explore possible solutions. Lazaro’s planned discussions appear to build on that effort, positioning the Philippines as a mediator at a time when ASEAN remains divided over how to handle Myanmar.

Her move underscores the regional challenge: finding a path towards peace while maintaining pressure on a regime accused of widespread abuses. For ASEAN, the question is whether dialogue with ethnic groups can open new channels for progress, or whether the crisis will continue to frustrate attempts at reconciliation.

-2026-06-11