Thailand Vows to Resist External Influence at ASEAN Talks
Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Maratee Nalita Andamo announced that Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will head the Thai delegation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, media reported.
"Thailand's stance remains clear: the country seeks peace and does not pose a threat or encroach upon the sovereignty of other nations. Thailand has consistently expressed its desire for lasting peace, and Cambodia must demonstrate sincerity in this matter," she said.
Bangkok will not be "pressured or put at a disadvantage" during the discussions, Andamo emphasized, signaling Thailand's determination to maintain its position amid international scrutiny.
Competing Claims of Cross-Border Strikes
The Thai Army has accused Cambodia of "use of violence against civilian targets," alleging BM-21 rocket attacks struck residential areas and Phanom Dong Rak Hospital.
Cambodia countered with allegations that Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to bomb Cambodian territory, according to media. Thai aircraft destroyed O' Jik Bridge spanning the border between Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey provinces late Friday, Cambodian officials reported. They further claimed Saturday strikes hit civilian infrastructure in Thmor Da district, Pursat province, damaging private commercial buildings and a primary school.
Chinese Envoy Pursues De-escalation
China's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijun, traveled to Phnom Penh seeking to defuse tensions, Cambodia's Foreign Ministry confirmed Saturday. Deng held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and senior officials Friday.
"During these meetings, both sides underscored the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and emphasized that peaceful dialogue remains the only viable path toward resolving differences," the ministry stated.
Deng pledged China would maintain a "constructive role in facilitating dialogue between Cambodia and Thailand with a view to promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes," according to the statement.
Mounting Casualties Despite Peace Efforts
Thai authorities reported 21 soldiers and 1 civilian killed in combat, while Cambodia's Interior Ministry documented 18 civilian deaths and 78 wounded. Thailand separately acknowledged 33 civilian fatalities as "collateral effects of the situation," referring to indirect deaths caused by the conflict.
Fighting persists despite US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that both nations' leaders had committed to ending hostilities.
The neighboring countries signed a peace agreement in October in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, that accord collapsed after Thai soldiers sustained severe injuries from a landmine detonation in a border province.
The territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has repeatedly ignited deadly clashes, including July violence that killed at least 48 people. The chronic border tensions continue threatening regional stability despite repeated diplomatic interventions.
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