Beijing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – China welcomed a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, urging peace and offering aid to over half a million displaced by border clashes.
As reported by Reuters, Beijing congratulated Cambodia for reaching a ceasefire with Thailand after weeks of deadly border fighting, ahead of a two-day meeting in southern China.
On Saturday, December 27, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to their second ceasefire after weeks of violent clashes that killed at least 101 and displaced over half a million people.
What did Wang Yi say about the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire and aid?
During a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the ceasefire “an important step towards restoring peace” and said it aligned with the shared expectations of countries in the region.
Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow are expected to meet Wang in Yunnan this weekend to discuss border issues.
Wang stated that Cambodia and Thailand should
“promote a complete and lasting ceasefire, resume normal exchanges and rebuild mutual trust.”
According to Wang, the Yunnan meeting provides an opportunity for the two countries’ diplomats and military officials to
“communicate in a flexible manner and enhance understanding.”
He added that China has offered humanitarian assistance to Cambodia for those displaced by border region conflicts.
What did Thailand and Cambodia agree on to maintain troop positions?
Commenting on the ceasefire, Thailand and Cambodia’s defence ministers said,
“Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement.”
A joint statement from both nations said,
“Any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation.”
For more than a century, Thailand and Cambodia have disputed sovereignty along their 817-kilometre border, with disagreements occasionally erupting into fighting.
Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Nakrphanit said the recent ceasefire will be supervised by an ASEAN observer team and maintained through cooperation between both countries.
He added,
“At the same time, at the policy level, there will be direct communication between the minister of defence and chief of the armed forces of both sides.”
Thailand’s Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee said,
“War and clashes don’t make the two countries or the two people happy.”
He added,
“I want to stress that the Thai people and the Cambodian people are not in conflict with each other.”
What role did Donald Trump play in ending border clashes between neighbors?
Long-standing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into five days of clashes in July, leaving at least 48 dead and 300,000 displaced before US President Donald Trump intervened to secure a ceasefire.
Since the conflict resumed, current ASEAN chair Anwar and former US President Trump failed to broker a new ceasefire, as clashes moved from forested areas near Laos to Thailand’s Gulf coast.
The renewed discussions followed a special meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, then three days of talks at a border checkpoint, where the two defence ministers met and agreed on returning displaced people while ensuring civilians are protected.
On 27 December, both nations reached a ceasefire agreement, committing to peace and the safe return of displaced people.
