ASEAN steps in to ease border tensions

Keen to defuse tensions and bring lasting peace, foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to explore ways to resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, with a focus on rebuilding mutual trust.

The meeting marked the second time this year that ASEAN has served as a platform to halt fighting between the two member states, following a joint declaration signed on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in October.

Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thai and Cambodian defense officials are scheduled to meet on Wednesday for further discussions under the framework of the Joint Boundary Commission.

The Thai position is that a ceasefire must be demonstrated through actions rather than formal announcements, Sihasak said. The border issue must be worked out bilaterally, he said, adding that China is an important partner.

Regarding the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday that China appreciates and supports ASEAN, particularly Malaysia's capacity to mediate.

"As a friend and close neighbor to both countries, China sincerely hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will, based on safeguarding peace and stability along their borders and the fundamental interests of their peoples, quickly achieve a ceasefire and restore peace," Lin said at a regular news conference in Beijing.

China, which has sent Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Deng Xijun to the region, will disclose more information about the envoy's efforts in due course, he said. Beijing will continue to actively promote peace talks and play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation, he added.

Regional peace

The meeting in Malaysia brought together 11 ASEAN member states, including Cambodia and Thailand.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said that ASEAN must do whatever is necessary to maintain regional peace and stability.

As the bloc's chair, he said Malaysia believes ASEAN must intensify trust-building among the conflicting parties and provide the horizons for dialogue despite prevailing differences.

"Our goal goes beyond de-escalating the tensions," he said in his opening remarks, adding that regional stability remains a collective responsibility, national news agency Bernama reported.

On the sidelines, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, held a pull-aside meeting with the foreign minister of Laos, according to Cambodia's state news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse.

Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokeswoman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that Thailand wants genuine and sustainable peace, insisting it has not threatened or violated another country's sovereignty, with which Cambodia disagrees.

Thailand hopes that Cambodia declares a ceasefire first and works together with Thailand on clearing landmines, she said in a release, adding that any ceasefire must be real and continuous, with no renewed firing.

Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor of international relations and human rights at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, told China Daily that the Malaysian talks may be difficult to have a dramatic breakthrough or a final settlement, as the conflicts are involved with history, nationalism, domestic politics and military sensitivities on both sides.

Malaysia, as ASEAN's rotating chair this year, has taken a more visible and proactive role, particularly in convening dialogue and keeping ASEAN countries engaged, she said.

However, its consensus-based approach means it moves slowly and cautiously, she added.

"This can be frustrating, especially when tensions persist," she said.

The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, reignited on Dec 7, has caused casualties on both sides.

According to Cambodia's Interior Ministry, the conflict has forced more than 510,000 people to flee their homes for safe shelters and 19 Cambodian civilians have been killed.

Thai authorities said on Monday that the conflict had led to 38 civilian deaths, with more than 167,000 people moving to safer shelters.

Each side has blamed the other for instigating the renewed clashes, claiming self-defense and trading accusations of attacks on civilians.

Prime Sarmiento in Hong Kong, Zhou Jin in Beijing and agencies contributed to this story.