Beijing on Thursday offered to help Thailand and Cambodia patch up relations after their deadliest border clashes in decades, as the three nations’ foreign ministers met for talks in China.
Last month, a long-running border row between the Southeast Asian neighbours boiled over into conflict involving artillery bombardments, air strikes and infantry clashes, killing at least 43 people and forcing over 300,000 to flee their homes.
The two sides struck a ceasefire after five days of violence — following intervention from US President Donald Trump — and agreed last week to extend the deal after talks between defence officials in Malaysia.
Beijing, Phnom Penh’s main ally, has also been involved in mediation efforts and on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on the sidelines of a Mekong regional conference in Yunnan.
“China is willing to provide necessary assistance based on the wishes of both parties,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa thanked China for its mediating role, and called for greater cooperation with Cambodia on removing landmines from the border area, his ministry said in a statement on X.
While clashes have stopped since the ceasefire, several Thai soldiers have been wounded by landmine blasts, keeping tensions high.
Thailand says the mines were laid recently. Cambodia, still littered with ordnance from decades of conflict, vigorously denies laying new mines.
Thailand and Cambodia have wrangled for decades over border territory and a border conflict erupted last month after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May. It was the worst fighting in more than a decade and only eased after a ceasefire was struck in late July.
— AFP
Beijing on Thursday offered to help Thailand and Cambodia patch up relations after their deadliest border clashes in decades, as the three nations’ foreign ministers met for talks in China.
Last month, a long-running border row between the Southeast Asian neighbours boiled over into conflict involving artillery bombardments, air strikes and infantry clashes, killing at least 43 people and forcing over 300,000 to flee their homes.
The two sides struck a ceasefire after five days of violence — following intervention from US President Donald Trump — and agreed last week to extend the deal after talks between defence officials in Malaysia.
Beijing, Phnom Penh’s main ally, has also been involved in mediation efforts and on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on the sidelines of a Mekong regional conference in Yunnan.
“China is willing to provide necessary assistance based on the wishes of both parties,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa thanked China for its mediating role, and called for greater cooperation with Cambodia on removing landmines from the border area, his ministry said in a statement on X.
While clashes have stopped since the ceasefire, several Thai soldiers have been wounded by landmine blasts, keeping tensions high.
Thailand says the mines were laid recently. Cambodia, still littered with ordnance from decades of conflict, vigorously denies laying new mines.
Thailand and Cambodia have wrangled for decades over border territory and a border conflict erupted last month after the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May. It was the worst fighting in more than a decade and only eased after a ceasefire was struck in late July.
— AFP
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