China playing a constructive mediation role

The historical dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over areas surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple has once again pushed regional security into a precarious state.

In recent weeks, the border conflict between the two countries, which first broke out in July, has escalated alarmingly, with firefights erupting across several Thai provinces, including Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani. This new wave of violence, which began on Dec 7, has surpassed previous clashes in both intensity and duration, and the conflict has become one of the most severe clashes between member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since the end of the Cold War. As of Monday, the conflict has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee from home and caused dozens of civilian deaths on both sides, according to reports from the two countries.

The repercussions of the conflict are already grave. The conflict has strained both economies, as it has impacted cross-border trade and severely disrupted tourism, which is a mainstay of both economies.

The violence has not only deepened historical grievances but also threatened the stability of regional cooperation frameworks such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. In such an interconnected region, this poses risks to broader regional stability and prosperity.

As a good neighbor to both countries and a stakeholder in regional stability, China is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict. The longer the conflict lasts, the more people will suffer, and the more animosity will accumulate between the two peoples, making it harder to restore peace and political trust between the two sides.

As a friend of both, China does not take sides in their dispute, and has been actively working to de-escalate the situation through mediation efforts.

As part of its diplomatic outreach, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow respectively on Thursday.

Pointing out that the intensity of this round of conflict has far exceeded previous ones, he rightly said that its continuation is not in the interest of either side. He urged the two sides to agree to a ceasefire as soon as possible and rebuild mutual trust. For this, it is important for both Cambodia and Thailand to demonstrate sincerity, especially the military forces of the two countries. China's mediation between Thailand and Cambodia is based on long-term considerations and a clear understanding of the difficulties and complexities involved. It is beneficial to both Thailand and Cambodia.

In a region marked by complex historical sensitivities, few actors can claim to have the trust and willingness necessary to sustain mediation efforts as China, whose balanced and constructive approach provides a stable impetus for de-escalation of the tensions, as it did in helping broker reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year.

Its approach emphasizes the importance of process management, recognizing that while a ceasefire is crucial, rebuilding political trust through sustained communication is also essential.

To this end, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's special envoy for Asian affairs embarked on a shuttle-diplomacy mission to Cambodia and Thailand starting last week, with the aim of restoring dialogue channels between the two countries and de-escalating tensions.

China's role in this mediation process is commendable for a couple of reasons. It is focused on encouraging dialogue, embodying its objective and impartial stance as a friend and good neighbor of both countries. And it is also coordinating its efforts with ASEAN, supporting ASEAN's own mediation efforts rather than overshadowing them.

The ASEAN foreign ministers met in Malaysia on Monday in an attempt to revive a short-lived ceasefire. To achieve a ceasefire, a certain level of understanding must be reached, taking into account the suffering of the local population, the security implications for the region, the continued international concern about the situation and considerations of justice for both countries.

In contrast with the United States transactional mediation efforts, China's approach is focused on addressing the root cause of the problem and forming a long-term peace framework.