Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war.
So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from influential neighbour Thailand in August.
His visit prompted criticism from Burmese exiles in Thailand, some whom describe Min Aung Hlaing as a “criminal” responsible for a conflict that has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the past five years.
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Myanmar’s government released the first photos of Aung San Suu Kyi in five years, prompting observers to question whether the 81-year-old will be released soon.
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and exiled Burmese pro-democracy activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi.
Read more about the latest here 👉🏽 bbc.com/news/articles/c1e1d5j6660o
This episode was recorded on 10 August 2026.
00:00 Introduction
01:48 Thinzar’s background as an activist
03:57 Understanding Myanmar’s latest visit to Thailand
06:28 Thailand’s justification for welcoming Myanmar
08:09 Burmese reaction to Min Aung Hlain’s Thai reception
09:50 Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?
13:15 Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya genocide
15:51 Why is no one replacing Aung San Suu Kyi?
16:39 Myanmar’s civil war
19:39 Why is Beijing siding with the Burmese military?
21:19 Burmese activists hold hope
22:23 How does the Burmese military feel about the criticism?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Bill Birtles, Derek Cai, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
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Myanmar’s military-backed government is seeking legitimacy from its neighbours, more than five years after troops overthrew a democratically-elected government and triggered a bloody civil war.
So does this mean the imprisoned former leader and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi will be released?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing pulled off a huge diplomatic victory with a red carpet welcome from influential neighbour Thailand in August.
His visit prompted criticism from Burmese exiles in Thailand, some whom describe Min Aung Hlaing as a “criminal” responsible for a conflict that has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives in the past five years.
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, Myanmar’s government released the first photos of Aung San Suu Kyi in five years, prompting observers to question whether the 81-year-old will be released soon.
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi is joined by BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and exiled Burmese pro-democracy activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi.
Read more about the latest here 👉🏽 bbc.com/news/articles/c1e1d5j6660o
This episode was recorded on 10 August 2026.
00:00 Introduction
01:48 Thinzar’s background as an activist
03:57 Understanding Myanmar’s latest visit to Thailand
06:28 Thailand’s justification for welcoming Myanmar
08:09 Burmese reaction to Min Aung Hlain’s Thai reception
09:50 Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?
13:15 Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya genocide
15:51 Why is no one replacing Aung San Suu Kyi?
16:39 Myanmar’s civil war
19:39 Why is Beijing siding with the Burmese military?
21:19 Burmese activists hold hope
22:23 How does the Burmese military feel about the criticism?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Bill Birtles, Derek Cai, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 instagram.com/bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 twitter.com/bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 facebook.com/bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #myanmar #asia #asiaspecific #aungsansuukyi #minaunghlaing
