US Secretary Rubio briefs Cambodian foreign minister on US support for peaceful resolution
State department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Rubio highlighted US President Donald Trump's strong desire for a peaceful resolution, reiterating the importance of an immediate ceasefire to prevent further escalation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Cambodian and Thai officials meet in Malaysia; both countries are aiming to iron out ceasefire details
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Thai and Cambodian officials met in Malaysia on Monday for the first round of cross-border committee talks since a tense ceasefire was brokered last week after five days of deadly armed border clashes that killed dozens and displaced over 260,000 people. The four-day General Border Committee meetings were initially due to be hosted by Cambodia, but both sides later agreed to a neutral venue in Malaysia, the annual chair of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), which has mediated the halt in hostilities last month. The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from US President Donald Trump, who had warned the two warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on Aug. 1 following the truce. Monday's talks focused on ironing out details to avoid further clashes. Discussions of the decades-long competing territorial claims over the pockets of land near the shared border are not on the agenda. Thailand and Cambodia have been feuding neighbours for centuries, since both were mighty empires. In modern times, a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarding Cambodia the land on which the ancient Preah Vihear temple stands marked a new low point in relations, and other border territory remained claimed by both countries. Fighting erupted in 2011 at Preah Vihaer, after which the International Court of Justice in 2013 reaffirmed its earlier ruling, rankling Thailand. Relations deteriorated again sharply in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in a brief fracas in one of the disputed border zones, setting off diplomatic and trade sanctions, one against the other. Soon after two incidents last month in which Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines in disputed territory, for which Thailand blamed Cambodia, the two sides downgraded diplomatic relations and fighting broke out, each side blaming the other for starting the armed clashes. The talks this week will include finalizing details and scope of reference for an Asean monitoring team, Malaysian Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Mohamad Nizam Jaffar said Monday. Despite some reports of attacks after the ceasefire came into effect, Nizam said such incidents were typical spillover violence and both sides showed strong commitment during Monday's talks to uphold the ceasefire. The main session of the General Border Committee on Thursday will be led by Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister cum Defense Minister Tea Seih and include observers from Malaysia, the United States and China, officials said. Despite the truce, tensions have persisted as both countries organised tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continue to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons. - AP
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Thailand and Cambodia commit to peace in border conflict resolution
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to resolving border conflicts during a secretariat-level discussion at Wisma Perwira, Malaysian Armed Forces, ahead of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting. Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar stated that the talks, led by Cambodia, will finalise the terms of reference for the ASEAN Defence Attaché Monitoring Team (AMT). This team will oversee compliance with the ceasefire agreement brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 28. 'They are now finalising the AMT's deployment conditions. If successful, we expect a positive outcome by Thursday,' Mohd Nizam told reporters after meeting with representatives from both nations. Fifty-four officials from Thailand and Cambodia are participating in the discussions. Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Seiha and Thailand's Acting Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit will attend the GBC meeting this Thursday. Malaysia is not directly involved in the three-day talks but is facilitating discussions. 'The meeting was initially set for Phnom Penh, but Thailand requested Malaysia as the host. Our role is to guide discussions and ensure key objectives are met before Thursday,' Mohd Nizam explained. Malaysia, the US, and China will observe the GBC meeting, followed by an informal dialogue involving defence and foreign ministers from Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Key peace measures include maintaining a ceasefire, halting troop movements, providing medical aid, avoiding indirect attacks, and preventing conflicting public statements. The ceasefire took effect on July 28 after a special meeting in Malaysia eased tensions between the two nations. The dispute stems from an 817-kilometre unmarked border, with recent clashes near Preah Vihear resulting in a Cambodian soldier's death on May 28. - Bernama
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Thailand, Cambodia show strong commitment towards peace, Chief of Defence Forces says
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand and Cambodia have expressed a strong commitment to ending border conflicts during a secretariat-level discussion at Wisma Perwira, Malaysian Armed Forces here on Monday (Aug 4), ahead of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting held until Thursday. Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said the discussion, chaired by Cambodia, will also cover the terms of reference (TOR) for establishing the Asean Defence Attaché Monitoring Team (AMT). He said that the AMT will ensure that both countries comply with the ceasefire agreement reached by their leaders at Seri Perdana last Monday, during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "They (Thailand and Cambodia) are now discussing the prerequisites for the AMT's deployment. If all goes well, we are expecting a very positive resolution by this Thursday," he told reporters after meeting with both secretariat heads here Monday. Fifty-four representatives from Thailand and Cambodia are involved in the secretariat-level meeting. Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Seiha, Thailand's Acting Minister of Defence General Natthaphon Narkphanit, the Chief of Defence Forces, and government representatives from both countries are expected to attend the GBC meeting this Thursday. He said Malaysia is not participating in the three-day secretariat meeting, which kicked off Monday, and is only acting as a facilitator ahead of the extraordinary meeting. "The meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), but Thailand requested Malaysia to host it. Only the two parties, Thailand and Cambodia, are involved in reaching a consensus to understand the TOR, AMT and related matters. Our role is solely to facilitate the direction of discussions and highlight the key outcomes that need to be achieved before Thursday. "Malaysia, the United States and China have been invited as observers at the GBC meeting. Following the GBC, there will be an informal discussion involving the Defence and Foreign Ministers of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia," he said. Mohd Nizam said key elements in achieving peace include a complete ceasefire, no additional troop deployments to the border, which means maintaining the status quo; providing medical assistance; refraining from indirect fire attacks; and avoiding conflicting public statements. Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire effective midnight on July 28, following a special meeting in Malaysia that brought the two Southeast Asian neighbours to the negotiating table amid escalating tensions. Chaired by Anwar at the Seri Perdana Complex in Putrajaya, the meeting saw Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai agree to a ceasefire deal following weeks of heightened tensions. The two countries have long-standing diplomatic friction over an 817km undemarcated stretch of their shared border. Tensions escalated on May 28 when a skirmish near the disputed Preah Vihear area resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. - Bernama
