The silence has become more striking as Myanmar’s security forces struggle to contain daily protests in Yangon and Mandalay, the two largest cities, and in the usually locked-down capital of Naypyitaw in support of ousted political leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically-elected government, to release all those unjustly detained, and to respect human rights and the rule of law,” the Group of Seven leading industrial nations said after the coup. By contrast, China did not support the U.N. Security Council’s effort the day after the military takeover to produce a joint statement condemning the putsch. Beijing is one of five permanent members of the council and wields veto power.