Myanmar's Diplomatic Gambit: Normalization by Proxy Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing has visited Laos, a move touted as a breakthrough in his efforts to break diplomatic isolation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
However, this visit is part of a more insidious strategy: using authoritarian states as proxies to normalize relations without facing scrutiny on human rights.
For months, Min Aung Hlaing has been engaged in a delicate dance with ASEAN member states. He seeks to win over individual nations while avoiding criticism from the grouping as a whole.