US dismisses Myanmar election plan, urges Asean pressure

Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. - AP

WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States said Monday (Aug 2) that Myanmar's junta was playing for time with a two-year election timeframe as Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepared to encourage Asean to appoint an envoy.

Blinken is participating virtually in a week of talks involving foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the latest bid by President Joe Biden's administration to engage a region at the frontlines of US competition with China.