HONG KONG (AP) — Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand met with their Chinese counterparts on Monday as Beijing’s government, building on its growing presence in the world diplomatic arena, sought to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countries.
The trilateral meeting, held in a southwestern Chinese province north of the disputed border, came two days after Thailand and Cambodia signed a new ceasefire agreement to end weeks of fighting that has killed more than 100 people and forced hundreds of thousands to be evacuated on both sides of the border.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for joint efforts to promote regional peace, stability and development, which is typical language for China in such situations.
“Allowing the flames of war to be rekindled is absolutely not what the people of the two countries want, and it is not what China, as your friend, wants to see. Therefore, we should look ahead resolutely and move forward,” Wang said during Monday’s meeting in Yunnan province.
It was worth noting that the meeting was held there, closer to the dispute and to Southeast Asia, than in Beijing, the Chinese capital and seat of government about 1,300 miles (2,500 kilometers) to the northeast.
Hopes for peace expressed
Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said he believes the latest ceasefire will last and create an environment for the two countries to work on their relations and resume previously agreed ways to resolve 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 offered to be a platform to support peace between the two countries and Thailand reiterated that adjustments to ties should be made “on a step-by-step basis.”
“The Thai side will consider the release of 18 soldiers after the 72-hour ceasefire observation period and request that Cambodia facilitate the return of Thai across the border,” the ministry said.
A day after the new 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 a regional and global economic and political force, 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 led under pressure from US 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 waged a bitter propaganda war, with minor and cross-border violence continuing. Tensions erupted into heavy fighting in early December.
Saturday’s agreement calls for Thailand, after a 72-hour ceasefire, to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held captive since the previous fighting in July. Their release was a big demand from the Cambodian side.
The agreement also calls on both sides to adhere to international agreements against the deployment of landmines, a key concern of Thailand.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Monday issued a statement to all Cambodian fighters along the border with Thailand.
“Even if 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.