As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) summit opens in Cebu, Philippines on Thursday, the question of Myanmar still hangs heavy in the balance. The 11-member bloc is well aware that the legitimacy of Myanmar ’s military junta—which has battered the country over the past five years and driven much of global business to exit—remains in doubt. Min Aung Hlaing, who has run the country for the last five years after a coup in February 2021, was named president on April 10, putting aside his military antecedents. Analysts and media have described this transition as a “civilian veneer to military control,” as his 34-member parliament was sworn in after a three-pronged election process earlier this year. This has meant giving up his title as Senior General and Commander in Chief of the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw). This transition from active military command is being seen as a calculated move to retain power.…