WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration is under pressure for a swift and strong U.S. response to the military takeover in Myanmar, a crisis that could be a first major test of its bid to work with allies on a new Asia strategy to stand up to China.
Myanmar’s military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in early morning raids.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Myanmar military leaders to release Suu Kyi and others detained and the White House said it opposed any attempt to alter the outcome of Myanmar’s Nov. 8 elections, while vowing “action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed.”
The U.S. government did not specify what measures might be under consideration but it could strengthen sanctions already in place and impose new ones on Myanmar.
The top Democrat on…