Leaders of Asian nations meeting in Manila on Monday skirted around the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims triggered by Myanmar’s military crackdown, disappointing human rights groups who were hoping for a tough stand on the humanitarian crisis. There was no pressure either from U.S. President Donald Trump over the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs during a meeting on the sidelines of the summit with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Mr. Trump told reporters that he had a “great relationship” with Philippines leader, who, a year ago, had branded then-President Barack Obama “a son of a b****” for questioning his ruthless campaign.
“They really hit it off,” Mr. Duterte’s Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told reporters after the meeting with Mr. Trump.
A draft of the statement to be issued after a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders made no mention of the flight of Rohingya from military operations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.
One paragraph mentioned fleetingly the importance of humanitarian relief for “affected communities” in Rakhine State.
The statement was drawn up by the Philippines, current chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar.
The ASEAN leaders did agree that they should not take a lull in the dispute over the South China Sea for granted.
