VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

It remains unclear whether Myanmar will attend the next meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after its junta this week chose not to send non-political representation, Malaysian Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

Asked if Myanmar would continue to be part of ASEAN meetings, Saifuddin Abdullah told a news conference: "That's the million dollar question which I cannot answer."

He stressed that the no-show was Myanmar's decision. (Reuters)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on Thursday it has agreed with China to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a day after reaching a similar deal with Australia.

Australia's clinching of the elevated partnership was a symbolic win for Canberra in getting ahead of China in securing the first such deal with the Southeast Asia region, which has become a strategic battleground between Beijing and Washington.

The announcement was made by Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during a news conference at which he was asked about Myanmar's future attendance of ASEAN events, after its junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who led a coup in February, was excluded from a series of Asian summits this week.

"Myanmar is an integral part of the ASEAN family and their membership has not been questioned," he said, asked if Myanmar could even be expelled from the bloc.

"ASEAN will always be there for Myanmar and we have continued to offer help through the implementation of the five-point consensus."

Min Aung Hlaing was sidelined over his failure to implement that "consensus", which he agreed with ASEAN in April, committing to ending hostilities, start dialogue and facilitate humanitarian aid and mediation efforts by a special ASEAN envoy.

"For this meeting, we have given Myanmar space while firmly upholding the principles enshrined in the ASEAN charter including that of non-interference," the sultan said.

Speaking at a separate news conference, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said it was unclear if Myanmar would join future ASEAN meetings and stressed the no-show this week was Myanmar's call.

Asked if it would continue to be part of ASEAN events, Saifuddin Abdullah said: "That's the one million dollar question which I cannot answer."

Japan's health ministry said it has decided to offer COVID-19 booster shots to anyone who has already received two vaccine doses, news agency Jiji reported on Thursday.

Japan had initially considered giving booster shots to frontline health workers and others who required priority first.

Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Thursday China's ambassador to Canberra is leaving his post, ending a tenure that has coincided with a deteriorating bilateral relationship.

Cheng Jingye arrived in 2016 at a time when the Australian-Chinese relationship was riding high, but he is now leaving after his term as ambassador ends, Payne said.

"I spoke to the Chinese ambassador some time ago now, my office spoke to him last week prior to his imminent departure,” Payne told lawmakers in Canberra.

Payne said China was in the process of appointing a new ambassador to Australia, who is expected to arrive soon.

Australia's ties with China have slipped markedly since 2018 when Canberra banned Huawei from its nascent 5G broadband network, but cooled further in 2020 when Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, first reported in central China in 2019.

China responded by imposing tariffs on Australian commodities, including wine and barley and limited imports of Australian beef, coal and grapes, moves described by the United States as "economic coercion".