Thailand and Cambodia Agree to Build on Ceasefire Talks in Chinas Yunnan

Thailand and Cambodia Hold Second Day of Talks Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Efforts

Foreign ministers from Thailand and Cambodia met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Yunnan province on Monday for a scheduled two-day discussion aimed at ending weeks of fighting along their border. The talks, titled “mutual confidence” building initiative, followed the agreement to a ceasefire on Saturday, which took effect at noon (05:00 GMT) and froze troop positions.

As part of the deal, Thailand has agreed to return 18 captured Cambodian soldiers on Tuesday if the ceasefire is fully observed. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed optimism about the progress made during the talks, stating that “we haven’t resolved everything, but I think we are making progress in the right direction.”

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn also spoke positively about the discussions, saying that he believed the ceasefire would last and provide an environment for the neighbors to resolve their differences. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the talks as “beneficial and constructive” and said an important consensus was reached.

However, Thailand’s military on Monday accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire by flying hundreds of drones over its territory. The Thai army stated that more than 250 drones were detected intruding into Thailand’s sovereign territory on Sunday night, calling it a “provocation.” The incident has raised concerns about the stability of the ceasefire and may impact the release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate on demining efforts and combating cybercrime as part of the truce. An Al Jazeera team reported from one such border area where Thai forces had advanced into Cambodian territory, finding that while guns had fallen silent since Saturday’s agreement, the area remained littered with shrapnel and unexploded ordnance.

The talks will continue on Tuesday to further discuss the rebuilding of mutual trust and consolidating the ceasefire.

Source: Al Jazeera