South East Asian foreign ministers meeting in Malaysia are seeking to revive a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after two weeks of deadly border clashes that have killed at least 60 people and forced more than half a million from their homes.
Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to try to salvage a truce previously brokered by Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, and U.S. President Donald Trump following border clashes in July.
The talks marked the first face-to-face meeting involving both governments since fighting resumed on 8 December. Thailand and Cambodia were represented by their respective foreign ministers.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the meeting was aimed at restoring stability in the region.
"It is my hope that this special meeting will renew our efforts for a return to stability in the affected areas. ASEAN must do whatever is necessary to maintain regional peace and stability," he said.
"Our goal goes beyond de-escalating the tension. We must intensify trust-building among the conflicting parties and provide the horizons for dialogue despite the prevailing differences."
The diplomatic effort comes as the U.S. and China pursue separate initiatives to end the conflict, with no clear breakthrough so far.
Bangkok and Phnom Penh accuse each other of responsibility for the latest violence and of breaching a ceasefire and enhanced truce agreed in October in Malaysia, in the presence of President Trump. That agreement included commitments to demining and the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons.
Heavy exchanges of fire have since taken place at several points along the countries’ 817km land border, stretching from forested areas near Laos to coastal provinces.
Cambodia's defence ministry said Thailand had violated its sovereignty with more "armed aggression" on Monday and vowed to defend what it said was its territory "at any cost".
Thailand has accused Cambodia of attempting to fire rockets at a border town and said one of its soldiers lost a leg after stepping on a landmine. Bangkok has also alleged that Cambodia laid new mines in breach of international treaty obligations, a claim Phnom Penh denies.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he hoped the meeting would allow both sides to negotiate openly and reach a lasting settlement.
"I emphasised the importance for Cambodia and Thailand to uphold the spirit of dialogue, wisdom and mutual respect in order to end the tensions and maintain peace and stability in this region," he wrote on X.
An ASEAN team is expected to present findings from field observations and satellite-monitoring data provided by the U.S. to the foreign ministers.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meetin...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having a “bullying mentality” at the United Nations Gene...
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the M...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Executives from leading artificial intelligence companies warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that increasingly powerful AI systems could pose serious risks to humanity and international security, calling for governments to work together to manage the technology.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei criticised the United Nations on Wednesday for what he described as looking “the other way” as tensions with Britain escalate over oil exploration around the Falkland Islands.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the UN that Tehran will not surrender to U.S. pressure but remains open to diplomacy, responding to Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” Iran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment