President Joe Biden's decision to skip Asean-related summits in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sept 5-7 in favour of the G-20 leaders' meeting in India just two days later has been greeted with howls of disappointment and criticism around Southeast Asian capitals and elsewhere that are concerned about America's role in the region.

Mr Biden's unwillingness to show up is said to undermine "Asean centrality", the notion that the bloc should be the main convening platform for promoting regional peace and security.

www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2635605/asean-role-stuck-on-myanmar-coup