US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Myanmar President Thein Sein Thursday in Nay Pyi Taw during a two-day visit seeking Myanmar aid on the Rohingya crisis. (AFP photo)

Thailand has welcomed Thursday's decision by Washington to take in Rohingya migrants stranded at sea to help regional countries cope with the influx of refugees.

National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Anusit Kunakhon said the Rohingya migrant crisis requires an international effort, and the US's decision will significantly ease the escalating problem.

"Rohingya migration is not the burden of any particular country, but is a humanitarian crisis requiring international cooperation," Mr Anusit said.

But the NSC chief remained cautious about the US's declaration, expressing doubt about whether it would honour its promise.

According to an AP report, the US State Department said Thursday the US is willing to take in Rohingya refugees.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf said the US is prepared to take a leading role in any multi-country effort, organised by the United Nations Refugee Agency, to resettle the most vulnerable refugees.

In the past three weeks, more than 3,000 people - Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar and Bangladeshis trying to escape poverty - have landed in overcrowded boats on the shores of various Southeast Asian countries.

Aids groups say thousands more are stranded at sea after human smugglers abandoned their boats to avoid crackdowns by authorities.

On Wednesday, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to offer sea migrants temporary shelter, as long as the resettlement and repatriation process is completed by the international community within one year.

Ms Harf welcomed their decision "to uphold their responsibilities under international law and provide humanitarian assistance and shelter to 7,000 vulnerable migrants".

The US would consider requests from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organisation for Migration for funds to help receive and screen refugees as they come to shore.

"We're taking a careful look at the proposal," the spokeswoman told reporters in Washington.

"It has to be a multi-country effort. We obviously can't take this all on ourselves.

"But we are prepared to play a leading role in this effort," she added.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted that Thailand will not set up refugee camps for Rohingya migrants.

There will only be holding centres run by immigration police to handle migrants, Gen Prayut said.

He said Thailand will continue to provide humanitarian help to the migrants, and the government will do all it can to protect the country's interests.

Asked why Thailand did not join Indonesia and Malaysia in offering temporary shelters to Rohingya migrants, Gen Prayut said Thailand is only a temporary stop along their route.

The issue will need to be discussed at the May 29 regional summit in Bangkok, the prime minister said.

He said those who felt his government should do more to help stranded boat people should "migrate" to sea themselves and swap places with them, AFP reported.

"Anyone who supports this idea [of accepting boat people], please contribute one baht a day, or take them to your home when their case has been processed," he told lawmakers during a speech on the budget. "Or you migrate out to the sea and bring them to live here instead," he added.

The comments came as Bangkok was criticised for not following Indonesia and Malaysia in agreeing on Wednesday to accept stranded migrants.

The ministers of foreign affairs of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia attended a meeting in Putrajaya on Wednesday, to discuss measures to address the crisis facing Rohingya sea migrants.

The BBC also reported Thursday evening that Malaysia and Indonesia's foreign ministers are in Nay Pyi Taw for urgent talks on the Rohingya migrant crisis.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, adviser to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, explained that the current government was not elected and is only a transitional one, and has to make careful decisions about the Rohingya migrant issue as it is sensitive.

Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied a report that the Thai navy had threatened to open fire on a boat of migrants found off Koh Lipe in Satun last week if it did not leave Thai waters.

"The government has a clear policy not to employ any form of violence and adheres to international law regarding humanitarian assistance," he said.

AP reported on Wednesday that a survivor of a wooden boat that broke down in the Andaman Sea, and was pulled ashore by fishermen in Indonesia, said the Thai navy had threatened to shoot at them after giving passengers provisions last week.