Myanmar's junta leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, secured a significant diplomatic platform at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin last week, despite his regime's international isolation since the 2021 coup. The general held bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and was photographed alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders from over 20 countries.
The junta hailed the visit as evidence of growing international recognition, but critics argue that such engagement legitimises a regime accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar's government-in-exile, condemned the meetings, warning that they provide propaganda material for the junta and indirectly endorse its atrocities.
India's engagement, in particular, drew scrutiny given its democratic identity. Modi expressed hope that Myanmar's upcoming elections would be 'held in a fair and inclusive manner involving all stakeholders'. However, the elections, scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026, are widely seen as a sham, with most civilian leaders jailed and political opponents suppressed.
UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews warned that Modi's comments risk providing the legitimacy the junta needs to survive, noting that 'tens of thousands of stakeholders are political prisoners'. China also pledged support for Myanmar's full membership in the SCO, further bolstering the junta's diplomatic standing.
