Chinese President Xi Jinping countered President Donald Trump’s assertions during their summit in Busan, denying Trump’s claims that China played no role in fostering peace between Cambodia and Thailand. Xi acknowledged Trump’s efforts in the Gaza ceasefire agreement but disputed Trump’s statement regarding China’s involvement in resolving the Cambodia-Thailand conflict.
Xi informed Trump that Beijing had been assisting the two neighboring Southeast Asian nations in resolving their border dispute through its own methods, as reported by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. This declaration by Xi highlights China’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia, where it has established significant security and trade connections with countries like Thailand and Cambodia.
Amid the tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi engaged in confidential discussions to encourage both countries to resolve their differences. During his ongoing Asia tour, Trump oversaw a ceremony marking a “peace deal” between Thailand and Cambodia, characterized by the US President as a momentous event. However, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow refrained from labeling the agreement as a peace treaty, opting to refer to it as a “pathway to peace.”
Although Trump hailed the agreement as a significant advancement, the official document signed by the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia, in the presence of Trump, was titled a “Joint Declaration of Relations between Thailand and Cambodia.” Thai officials have been cautious in refraining from explicitly terming it as a peace treaty, per BBC reports.
The agreement primarily focuses on initial steps to de-escalate the conflict, such as the withdrawal of heavy armaments, collaborative mine clearance, and border demarcation. Trump, aiming for the Nobel Peace Prize, has expressed intentions to intervene in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict, asserting a swift resolution to the discord between the two nations.
Following unsuccessful negotiations, Kabul and Islamabad are engaging in a third round of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Istanbul, as reported by various media outlets.