Myanmar’s military ruler, Min Aung Hlaing, returned from a high-profile visit to China last week after a tour designed to bolster his legitimacy on the international stage. The visit marked a significant diplomatic victory for the military leader, who has spent years as an international pariah following his 2021 coup and the brutal civil war that followed. Welcomed in Beijing with full state honors by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Min Aung Hlaing secured new agreements on trade, transportation, disaster relief, and security cooperation.