The World is Whitewashing Myanmar's Dictatorship
Myanmar's military rulers are being welcomed back into the international fold without changing anything, a grim outcome for the country's people and a win for the generals.
- Myanmar's ruler Min Aung Hlaing staged a rigged election, swapped his uniform for a suit, and is now treated as a legitimate civilian president.
- China is pouring money in and pressuring rebel groups to stop fighting, mainly to protect its own pipelines, mines, and businesses there.
- Russia is signing deals for a nuclear plant, oil refineries, and a seaport, and just hosted Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow.
- Thailand is pushing hard to let Myanmar back into the Southeast Asian bloc, and the Philippines is coming around.
- Myanmar is giving nothing back — it still holds Aung San Suu Kyi, refuses to take back Rohingya refugees, and told the bloc's envoy to stay home.
Outlook: Myanmar looks set to rejoin the regional bloc with no concessions, leaving a war that has killed more than 100,000 people to grind on unpunished.