Myanmar's ruling military junta's move to crush the pro-democracy protests has been deplorable. The larger global community agrees that political prisoners and detainees should be released, and dialogue with the opposition must begin. That's the summation of the U.N. Security Council's recent statement.

The fact that China went along with even the U.N.'s measured reproach has symbolic value in that it isolates Myanmar's rulers.

Shari Villarosa, the highest-ranking U.S. diplomat in Myanmar, said last week during a Honolulu visit that she is hopeful that change is near.

Villarosa — speaking at the East-West Center, where she was diplomat in residence in 2000-2001 — also said the ones most hesitant to condemn the junta are the closest neighbors, the countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations. They are the most dependent on trade agreements with Myanmar.

While China has shown some progress, more must be done. As Myanmar's major commercial partner, China must use its influence to ease the violence.

In the meantime, the U.S. must help keep the global spotlight on the fate of the Buddhist monks and other protesters, and use its influence with ASEAN nations to exert real economic pressure on the generals next door.