Tokyo: The United States has held another round of confidential talks with Myanmar’s military backed government in Tokyo, continuing diplomatic engagement with the country’s rulers despite an ongoing civil war, international criticism and serious human rights concerns.
The meeting reportedly took place the previous week and was the second known meeting between the two sides within about a month. It followed an earlier meeting in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyitaw, in mid September, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The renewed contact marks a further step in Washington’s engagement with Myanmar following the military coup of February 2021, which removed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Since the coup, the country has faced widespread armed resistance, economic difficulties and international pressure over the military’s actions against civilians.
Michael Vance, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, led the American delegation at the Tokyo meeting. One source familiar with the discussions said more than a dozen US officials took part. The identities of the Myanmar representatives have not been established in the available reporting.
Neither side has publicly confirmed the detailed agenda or announced an agreement resulting from the latest meeting. The exact subjects discussed in Tokyo therefore remain unclear.
The earlier meeting in Naypyitaw involved Vance and Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, who became president in April 2026. The September discussions focused partly on securing the release of an American businessman, Adam Castillo, and efforts to combat online scam operations targeting Americans. It remains unclear whether Castillo has since been released or whether his case was discussed again in Tokyo.
Online fraud has become an important concern for Washington because scam operations based in Myanmar have defrauded people in the United States and other countries of large sums of money. These operations include romance scams and other forms of online deception.
Some scam centres operate in territories controlled by armed groups linked to Myanmar’s military or in areas where government forces have limited control. Researchers have reported links between some criminal operations and military aligned groups. However, these connections vary, and the latest diplomatic talks do not establish that the two sides have agreed on a joint plan to tackle the problem.
The United States has also shown interest in Myanmar’s heavy rare earth minerals, which are used in products such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. Access to these resources could have wider economic and strategic importance as Washington seeks to strengthen supply chains for materials essential to modern technology.
However, many of Myanmar’s rare earth deposits are located in areas controlled by ethnic armed groups fighting the military. China is also the main buyer of Myanmar’s rare earth minerals. These factors could make it difficult for the United States to secure access to the resources.
There is no confirmed evidence that rare earth minerals were discussed at the Tokyo meeting or that the United States secured any mining or commercial agreement.
Japan has also maintained contact with Myanmar’s military backed administration. Japanese officials have communicated with both sides, while Japanese ruling party lawmaker Hiromichi Watanabe visited Naypyitaw in September to explore the possibility of restoring bilateral cooperation and development assistance.
An acting Japanese envoy to Myanmar also met the country’s foreign minister earlier in October. However, these contacts do not mean that Japan has formally recognised the military backed administration. Japanese authorities have distinguished between official government policy and the activities of individual politicians.
The diplomatic developments come as Myanmar continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis. A UNICEF report published in September 2026 estimated that about 16.2 million people, including 4.9 million children, needed humanitarian assistance. Nearly 3.8 million people were internally displaced by the end of June.
The crisis has been driven by continuing conflict, airstrikes, economic decline and restrictions on humanitarian access. The United Nations has also reported evidence of attacks against civilians, arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence attributed to Myanmar’s military.
The military seized power in February 2021 after removing the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup triggered widespread protests, followed by armed resistance and an expanding conflict involving the military, pro democracy forces and ethnic armed organisations.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing and other individuals linked to the military leadership over the coup and human rights abuses. Washington has also accused Myanmar’s military of responsibility for serious abuses against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
The United States has recently taken steps suggesting a more flexible approach to selected issues involving Myanmar. On October 9, it removed Myanmar national Theint Win Htet from its sanctions list following a legal challenge. A US State Department spokesperson said the designation no longer effectively supported American policy objectives concerning Myanmar.
That decision does not mean Washington has ended its wider sanctions policy against the military leadership. There is also no established evidence that the removal was directly connected to the recent diplomatic meetings.
Myanmar’s military backed administration has separately sought to strengthen its international relationships. Min Aung Hlaing visited Malaysia in October for talks with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, reflecting wider efforts to restore diplomatic contacts with regional partners.
The latest talks in Tokyo raise questions about how Washington intends to balance its immediate interests, including combating online fraud and exploring access to strategic resources, with its concerns about human rights and political stability.
For now, the reported meeting represents renewed communication rather than a confirmed diplomatic breakthrough. No agreement on sanctions, mineral access or a wider political settlement has been publicly established.
Whether the contacts will lead to practical cooperation, improved security or progress towards ending Myanmar’s conflict remains uncertain.