Given the brutal military 'government' in Myanmar, why is that benighted country permitted to be in ASEAN? How can it be that locking up an elderly woman who won an election is acceptable to the other ASEAN countries?

ASEAN is a bad joke. The awfulness of member countries makes it an easy target for Communist China.

Diplomacy is always a worthwhile endeavour.

If not for swollen heads and fat wallets, the Ukraine war disaster for both sides, would have a different outcome for the rarely considered civilians on all sides.

We need to be a good neighbour and help when and where we can. We also need to push back against bullies and say no, we're not having it when they go too far. And need a hypothetical big iron on the hip to back that up!

To that end we need to walk softly and carry a big stick in a velvet glove. We also need to become a nuclear-powered nation utilizing the world's cheapest power, i.e., MSR thorium or MSR nuclear waste burners, for the massive and automated industrial muscle that would create here for us and ours.

And indeed, turbocharge our debt riddled economy and draw down and completely retire national debt. Or prevaricate to the Enith degree until we are caught with our pants down and only able to defend ourselves for a couple of hours with what we have.

As history repeats itself as before when we were forced to fight for our very survival and freedom/way of life. And were so unprepared we mostly had broomsticks for rifles!

The west needs to step in on Myanmar and bring those (coups de te) generals to international justice and stand trial for their genocide and war crimes! That would send a strong message to the rest of Asean.
Alan B.