HONG KONG – On Monday, foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand gathered with their Chinese counterpart as Beijing, enhancing its global diplomatic footprint, aimed to mediate the ongoing violent border conflict between the two Southeast Asian nations.
The meeting took place in a southwestern Chinese province located just north of the disputed area, merely two days after Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a new ceasefire, following weeks of hostilities that resulted in over 100 fatalities and the displacement of hundreds of thousands along the border.
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, urged collaborative efforts to foster peace, stability, and development in the region, echoing familiar sentiments from China in such contexts.
“Rekindling the flames of war is absolutely not in the interest of the people from both countries, nor is it what China, as a friend, wishes to witness. Hence, we must firmly focus on the future and progress forward,” Wang stated during the meeting in Yunnan Province.
The location of the meeting was significant, being closer to Southeast Asia and the conflict zone, rather than in Beijing, the Chinese capital, situated about 1,300 miles (2,500 kilometers) northeast.
Expressions of hope for peace were shared.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said he believed the latest ceasefire would last and would create an environment for both countries to work on their relations and resume the previously agreed-upon ways to settle their differences, according to a Chinese interpreter.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow also expressed hopes for peace with neighboring countries, the interpreter said.
The Thai Foreign Ministry later said in a statement that China volunteered to be a platform to support peace between the two countries and Thailand reiterated that adjustments of ties should be conducted “on a step-by-step basis.”
“The Thai side will consider the release of 18 soldiers after the 72 hours ceasefire observation period and requests that Cambodia facilitate the return of Thais along the border,” the ministry said.
A day after the fresh pact was signed, Sihasak and Prak Sokhonn held separate meetings with Wang on Sunday, the first day of the two-day gathering.
The meetings represented China’s latest efforts to strengthen its role as an international mediator and, in particular, its influence in Asian regional crises. As China grows and becomes more of an economic and political force regionally and globally, Beijing has spent the past decade and more working in various ways to increase its voice as a third party in diplomatic matters.
Disputes continue
The two Southeast Asian countries originally reached a ceasefire in July. It was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. The preliminary pact was followed by a more detailed October agreement.
But Thailand and Cambodia carried on a bitter propaganda war, with minor, cross-border violence continuing. The tensions erupted into heavy fighting in early December.
The Saturday agreement calls for Thailand, after the ceasefire has held for 72 hours, to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held prisoner since the earlier fighting in July. Their release has been a major demand of the Cambodian side.
The agreement also calls on both sides to adhere to international agreements against deploying land mines, a major concern of Thailand.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday issued a statement to all Cambodian combatants along the border with Thailand.
“Even though we can still fight,” he said, “as a small country we still have nothing to gain from prolonging the fighting for a long time.”
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Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
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