Thailand and Cambodia want to consolidate the ceasefire. After bloody clashes, they negotiated in China

After weeks of violence, Thailand and Cambodia have concluded a new ceasefire and held talks in China to consolidate it. However, the fragile agreement has already been accompanied by tense moments shortly after signing.

Der chinesische Außenminister Wang Yi und der thailändische Außenminister Sihasak Phuangketkeow in der Stadt Yuxi. Foto: cnsphoto/Reuters

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow in Yuxi city. Photo: cnsphoto/Reuters

After nearly three weeks of intense border fighting, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to gradually "consolidate the ceasefire" and restore mutual trust. This follows a joint communiqué after trilateral talks with China held in Yunnan province in the south-west of the country.

The latest ceasefire came into force on Saturday after some 20 days of violence that has claimed at least 101 lives and driven more than half a million people from their homes. It is the second agreement to halt fighting since late October, as previous ceasefires proved unstable.

The fiercest fighting in years

Conflict between the two Southeast Asian states flared up again in early December after the collapse of a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump in the autumn. Both sides subsequently accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire and of aggression along their shared border.

Fighter jets, missiles and artillery were used in the fighting, making it the fiercest armed incident between Thailand and Cambodia in years, according to the Japan Times. The firing took place at several points along their 817-kilometre-long land border, with civilian areas among the hardest hit.

A new ceasefire agreement was signed over the weekend by the defence ministers of both countries.

The document bans troop movements in the border area and warns that any reinforcement of positions could seriously undermine peacekeeping efforts. A statement on the agreement was posted by the Cambodian side on social media.

China-led negotiations

Immediately after the ceasefire, the foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia travelled to China's Yunnan province, where they held talks with Chinese diplomatic chief Wang Yi on Sunday and Monday. The aim of the meetings was to stabilise the situation on the border and set up mechanisms to put the agreement into practice.

Wang I described the ceasefire as "hard-fought" and urged both sides not to scuttle it with a premature return to violence. "Discussions among the three sides have been beneficial and constructive, and an important consensus position has been reached," he said, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

According to the joint communiqué released by China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Thailand and Cambodia pledged to restore political trust, improve mutual relations and maintain peace in the region. Wang I also warned that the implementation of the ceasefire requires continued communication and consultation, and that the normalisation of bilateral relations must be gradual.

Representatives of the defence ministries of both countries also participated in the talks. According to the Chinese side, diplomats and military officials held a number of bilateral meetings and showed a "positive and open attitude".

Thailand reports airspace violations shortly after agreement

The fragile ceasefire faced its first serious test shortly after it was signed. The Thai military on Monday accused the neighbouring country of violating it, according to CNA.

According to a statement from the military, on Sunday evening "more than 250 drones flew over from the Cambodian side", allegedly violating Thai airspace. Bangkok described this as a provocative act and a violation of tension-relief measures agreed by both sides during Saturday's meeting of the bilateral border commission.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on state television on Monday that the incident was the subject of negotiations between the two sides. He said they had agreed to jointly investigate and "immediately resolve" the situation.

(reuters, pir)