📞 This week, Wang Yi, foreign minister of the Chinese mainland, dialed up his counterparts in Cambodia and Thailand to bring some peace vibes to Southeast Asia.
On Thursday, he spoke with Prak Sokhonn, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Cambodia, and later with Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow of Thailand. Both sides gave Wang the lowdown on the recent border clashes and said they're ready to cool things down with a ceasefire.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, underlined that neither Cambodia nor Thailand benefit from armed conflict, especially since this round of clashes has been more intense than before. He stressed that the top priority now is to stop the fighting, limit further losses, and rebuild trust. ✌️
The Chinese mainland has been pushing for peace talks from the start, acting fairly and backing ASEAN mediation efforts. To keep the momentum going, a special envoy for Asian affairs has already taken off for Phnom Penh and Bangkok to shuttle between the two capitals.
Both Prak Sokhonn and Sihasak Phuangketkeow welcomed Beijing's impartial approach and the new shuttle diplomacy, hoping it will help tamp down tensions and restore calm.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the conflict is mounting:
- Thailand's military reports 21 soldiers and 21 civilians killed.
- Cambodia's Interior Ministry says 18 civilians dead and 78 injured as of Wednesday evening.
With both sides on board for a ceasefire and the Chinese mainland playing the middleman, there is cautious optimism that peace talks can get back on track soon. 🌏🤝
Reference(s):
Chinese FM holds calls with Cambodian, Thai foreign ministers
cgtn.com
