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Latest Thai-Cambodian clashes expose limits of ASEAN’s conflict management tools
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Displaced people arriving at a temporary camp in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province on Dec 11, amid clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
PHOTO: AFP
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- Thai-Cambodia ceasefire collapse puts pressure on ASEAN, highlighting its reliance on chair-led diplomacy.
- Renewed fighting exposes ASEAN's limited conflict-management tools, as norms like non-interference hinder direct intervention; hundreds of thousands displaced.
- Analysts suggest Malaysia continue mediation with Philippines' support; ASEAN could strengthen observer teams and convene emergency meetings to de-escalate.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – The collapse of the Thai-Cambodian ceasefire has piled fresh pressure on ASEAN as it prepares for a chairmanship transition in 2026.
The latest clashes between the two neighbours underscore how limited ASEAN’s conflict management tools are when two member states slide into confrontation, said Ms Joanne Lin, a senior fellow and coordinator of the ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
