U.S. President Donald Trump will be skipping next week's ASEAN plus Three summit for the second year in a row.
Instead, the White House says the most senior official from his administration who will be in Bangkok for the summit will be Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
However, President Trump is expected to attend the APEC forum in mid-November, if they find a new location.
Observers say the lack of top-level U.S. representation in Bangkok will be significant,... in a region increasingly concerned over China's fast-expanding influence in Southeast Asia.