Myanmar’s Neighbors Seek to Ease Its Isolation Despite Conflict

Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian nations toward easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi, with diplomats signaling a desire to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold despite ongoing conflict.

Officials from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, gathering at this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in the Philippines, said the country’s recent elections — which were widely considered flawed — political prisoner amnesties, and Suu Kyi’s transfer to house arrest were positive signs from coup chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing.