Top diplomats of China, Cambodia and Thailand meet as Beijing seeks to strengthen role in dispute
HONG KONG (AP) — The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand met with their Chinese counterparts Monday as the Beijing government sought to play a stronger mediator role in the fierce border dispute between the two Southeast Asian nations by bolstering its expanding presence in the world diplomatic arena.
The trilateral meeting, held in the southwestern Chinese province north of the disputed border, took place two days later. Thailand And Cambodia signed a new signature ceasefire agreement More than 100 people died and an end to weeks of conflict hundreds of thousands Both sides of the border will be evacuated.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for joint efforts to promote regional peace, stability and development, which is typical Chinese language in such situations.
“Letting the flames of war flare up again is definitely not what the people of the two countries want and what China, as your friend, wants to see. Therefore, we must look forward and move forward resolutely,” Wang said at the meeting in Yunnan province on Monday.
It was notable that the meeting was held here, closer to the conflict and to Southeast Asia, than in Beijing, China’s capital and seat of government some 2,500 kilometers to the northeast.
Hopes for peace expressed
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said he believed the recent ceasefire would last and create an environment for both countries to work on their relations and pursue previously agreed ways to resolve their differences, according to a Chinese translator.
The translator said that Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow also expressed his hopes for peace with neighboring countries.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said in a statement that China was willing to be a platform to promote peace between the two countries, and Thailand reiterated that adjustments in relations should be made “step by step”.
“The Thai side will consider the release of 18 soldiers after a 72-hour ceasefire observation period and request Cambodia to facilitate the return of Thais across the border,” the ministry said.
A day after the new agreement was signed, Sihasak and Prak Sokhonn held separate meetings with Wang on Sunday, the first day of the two-day meeting.
The meetings represented China’s latest efforts to strengthen its role as an international mediator and influence in regional crises, especially in Asia. As China has grown and become an economic and political power regionally and globally, Beijing has spent the last decade and more working in various ways to raise its voice as a third party in diplomatic matters.
Disputes continue
The two Southeast Asian countries first reached a ceasefire in July. happened brokered by Malaysia Thailand and Cambodia agreed to this agreement under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless they reached an agreement. The preliminary agreement was followed by a more detailed agreement. October agreement.
But Thailand and Cambodia continued a bitter propaganda war, with minor cross-border violence continuing. Tensions escalated into violent clashes in early December.
Saturday’s agreement calls for Thailand to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers after a ceasefire lasts 72 hours who were detained Since previous clashes in July. Their release was a major demand of the Cambodian side.
The agreement also calls on both sides to comply with international agreements against the deployment of weapons. land minesThailand’s biggest concern.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a statement on Monday targeting all Cambodian fighters on the Thai border.
“Even though we could still fight,” he said, “as a small country we still have nothing to gain from prolonging the war for too long.”
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Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
