Trump says Thailand, Cambodia have agreed to stop border clashes
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US President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he had a "good conversation" with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia.
PHOTO: DOUG MILLS/NYTIMES
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- Trump announced Thailand and Cambodia agreed to halt border fighting, which has killed 20 and displaced half a million, after calls with their PMs.
- The ceasefire revives a July peace accord brokered by the US, China, and Malaysia (ASEAN chair) after initial violence, which Thailand later suspended.
- Despite Trump's intervention, Thai evacuees prefer bilateral talks, while Cambodian evacuees expressed happiness hoping for lasting peace.
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BANGKOK – US President Donald Trump said on Dec 12 that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to halt fighting along their disputed border, which has killed at least 20 people this week.
The latest fighting between the South-east Asian neighbours, which stems from a long-running dispute reigniting the conflict.
“I had a very good conversation this morning with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, concerning the very unfortunate reawakening of their long-running War,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” he said, referring to a deal made in July.
“Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America,” Mr Trump noted, thanking Datuk Seri Anwar for his assistance.
Earlier, Mr Anutin had said, after his call with Mr Trump: “It needs to be announced to the world that Cambodia is going to comply with the ceasefire.”
“The one who violated the agreement needs to fix (the situation) – not the one that got violated,” Mr Anutin said, adding that the call with Mr Trump “went well”.
Fighting raged again on Dec 12, reported Reuters, with Cambodia accusing Thailand of shelling and firing machine guns on multiple sites, including near ancient temples, and sending armoured vehicles into what it called its territory.
“The heroic Cambodian forces will continue to stand strong, brave and steadfast in their ongoing fight against the aggressors,” its Defence Ministry said.
Thailand’s military accused Cambodia of encroachment into its territory, saying it was “compelled to exercise its right to self-defence” with the objective of ending the threat and protecting lives and sovereignty.
‘Talk among themselves’
The United States, China and Malaysia, as chair of the regional grouping ASEAN, brokered a ceasefire in July
In October, Mr Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, touting new trade deals after they agreed to prolong their truce.
But Thailand suspended the agreement in November after Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines at the border.
In the north-eastern province of Buriram, Thai evacuee Jirasan Kongchan said peace should come through direct bilateral talks, not foreign mediation.
“I want Thailand and Cambodia to talk among themselves first, clearly and decisively,” said the 50-year-old farmer.
“If Cambodia breaks the peace (agreement) again, ASEAN countries should step in, maybe impose some kind of sanctions.”
Cambodian evacuee Choeun Samnang, 54, said he was “very happy” to hear Mr Trump had called the Thai Prime Minister asking for the countries to abide by the joint declaration.
“I don’t want to see countries at war. I want both Cambodia and Thailand to have peace,” he told AFP at a shelter in Banteay Meanchey province.
At the White House on Dec 11, Mr Trump again boasted about having resolved multiple conflicts, but said that with “Thailand and Cambodia, I think I’m going to have to make a couple of phone calls... but we’ll get that one back on track”.
It is unclear if Mr Trump will be able to secure a cessation of hostilities as easily as he did in July, when he told the Cambodian and Thai leaders that negotiations on steep US tariffs could resume only when fighting ended. Thailand’s Foreign Minister this week told Reuters that tariffs should not be used to pressure Thailand.
On Dec 12, Mr Anutin said Mr Trump had asked him how trade talks were going between Bangkok and Washington and gave no indication those would be impacted by the fighting.
“He didn’t apply any pressure,” Mr Anutin said, noting that there were “no signs” Mr Trump would connect further trade talks with the border conflict, but that he had guaranteed Thailand would get “better benefits than other countries”.
Washington lowered the tariff on Thai and Cambodian goods to 19 per cent after the two countries agreed to the initial ceasefire, reported Bloomberg.
The Thai Prime Minister has so far been non-committal on a diplomatic solution and has repeatedly backed the military to fully implement its planned operations.
Thailand’s army has made clear that it wants to cripple Cambodia’s military capability “for years to come”.
A top adviser to Mr Hun Manet told Reuters this week that Phnom Penh was “ready at any time” for dialogue, while Thailand has rejected mediation and said Cambodia must show sincerity before any bilateral negotiations can happen. AFP, REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
