US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on southeast Asian nations to hold Myanmar's junta to account, and said China shared an interest in restoring democracy.
"We will continue to look for ways that we can, and other countries can, effectively put pressure on them to move back to the democratic path," Mr Blinken told reporters in Bangkok, Thailand after meeting democracy activists from Myanmar.
"I think all the ASEAN countries need to hold the regime accountable," he said.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in April last year reached a "five-point consensus" with Myanmar's junta that had seized power two months earlier that included calls for dialogue with the opposition.
Mr Blinken declined to criticise a recent visit to Myanmar by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, whom the top US diplomat met in Bali yesterday, but called on China to support the international calls for democracy.
"I think it's also incumbent upon China and in China's interest to see Burma move back to the path that it was on that it was so violently disrupted from by the coup," he said, using Myanmar's former name.
Myanmar's military has increased pressure against ethnic minority armies since a coup last year and is encountering resistance on multiple fronts, including militia groups allied with the ousted government.
Mr Blinken vowed to keep a spotlight on Myanmar but acknowledged no results from the US strategy that has included sanctions on the junta.
"It's unfortunately safe to say that we've seen no positive movement and on the contrary, we continue to see the repression of the Burmese people," he said.
"We continue to see violence perpetrated on by the regime, we continue to see virtually the entire opposition in jail or in exile, and we continue to see a terrible humanitarian situation."
Meanwhile the US and Thailand have signed agreements to deepen the countries' already strong ties as Washington steps up its efforts to counter China's expanding influence in Asia.
Mr Blinken and Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai pledged to advance partnerships in climate change, law enforcement and security cooperation.
Mr Blinken will also meet with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who met the Chinese foreign minister earlier this week.
"We are taking the partnership between us fully into the 21st century," Mr Blinken said, adding that Thailand is an important ally "in a region that is shaping the trajectory of the century".
Mr Bliken last year postponed a trip to Thailand, the oldest US ally in Asia, after halting a regional tour when a Covid-19 case was found in the press corps accompanying him.
The Biden administration has sought to shore up ties with a region that had become uncertain about US commitment during a period of perceived neglect under Mr Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump.
At that time, China expanded its influence while pushing investment and trade integration.
"We have also laid the foundation for the next 190 years," the Thai foreign minister said, as the two countries prepare to mark 190 years of relations next year.
Talks with Mr Prayuth will include the crisis in Myanmar and expanding cooperation, the State Department said.
After Thailand, he will make a previously unscheduled stop in Tokyo to offer condolences to the Japanese people after the killing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the State Department said.
