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China Proposes Mediation and Investment to Heal Thai-Cambodia Border Rift

Wang Yi pledged rapid railway expansion to deepen ties following last month’s deadly border clashes

Overview

  • China’s foreign minister met Thai and Cambodian counterparts at a Lancang-Mekong Cooperation meeting in Yunnan on August 14 to offer mediation in their long-running frontier dispute.
  • Wang Yi said Beijing would back reconciliation efforts based on both nations’ wishes and accelerate the China-Thailand railway project to spur cross-border investment.
  • He voiced support for Cambodia’s crackdown on online gambling and urged joint regional action against cross-border crime targeting Chinese citizens.
  • Thailand and Cambodia have upheld a Malaysia-brokered ceasefire since late July but continue to contest the origin of recent landmine blasts along the Preah Vihear frontier.
  • Before the truce, artillery bombardments, air strikes and infantry clashes displaced over 300,000 civilians, and detained soldiers from both sides are still awaiting repatriation.