Bilahari Kausikan is former Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Outside actors have limited ability to influence the course of events


A chaotic scene during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, pictured on Mar. 16: neither the U.S. nor China wants to do more than they have already done. © Sipa/AP
Bilahari Kausikan is former Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.