China on Thursday called upon Cambodia and Thailand to peacefully resolve their border dispute through friendly dialogue, and expressed its willingness to play a constructive role by maintaining an “objective and fair” stance, according to its foreign ministry.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence between Cambodia and Thailand during a meeting with his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, the Chinese foreign ministry said in an official statement.
‘Objective And Fair Position’
“China is willing to uphold an objective and fair position and play a constructive role for the harmonious coexistence between Thailand and Cambodia,” Wang said.
Tensions have been steadily rising between the two Southeast Asian neighbours since the end of May, following a brief exchange of gunfire at a disputed section along their 820-km (510-mile) border, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
Last month Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice to resolve the disputes.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended pending a court case over her leaked phone call with Cambodia’s influential former leader, Hun Sen, a conversation her opponents say undermined Thailand’s sovereignty and integrity.
China Impartial On Border Issue
Wang, in a separate meeting held the same day with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, reiterated China’s neutral and impartial stance on the ongoing border issue, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a separate statement.
He emphasised security measures to protect Chinese and Cambodians, calling for tougher action to “completely eradicate the tumour” of cross-border crimes such as online gambling, wire fraud, counterfeiting and smuggling.
Referring to US tariffs, he added that China believed Southeast Asia had the ability to cope with the “complex situation” and safeguard common interests as well as those of individual nations.
(With inputs from Reuters)
