Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia in a message posted on his online social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday night, congratulating the leaders of both countries on reaching a swift and fair agreement.
According to Thai News Agency, Trump's message stated that he was pleased to announce that the fighting that had erupted between Thailand and Cambodia would immediately end and that both countries would return to peaceful coexistence in accordance with the original treaty that had just been agreed upon. He congratulated both great leaders for their wisdom in reaching such a swift and fair conclusion. It was as swift and decisive as such a situation should be. The United States has always been proud to have assisted as a mediator, along with Malaysia and China.
Trump also took the opportunity to criticize the United Nations, posting a message stating that of all the wars and conflicts he had intervened in and ended in the past 11 months-eight of them-the United States had perhaps become the "real United Nations." He added that the UN had provided very little assistance in various conflicts around the world, including the ongoing tragedy between Russia and Ukraine, and that the UN needed to wake up and become more involved in world peace.
Previously, on December 13, Trump claimed that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to a ceasefire after he spoke with the two leaders by phone. However, fighting continued at that time because Thailand stated that Cambodia was still violating its sovereignty. Therefore, the agreement reached on December 27 is seen as more "genuine" than the previous one.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prak Sokhonn, in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China yesterday.
During the meeting, Mr. Prak Sokhonn emphasized Cambodia's profound respect for the long-standing solidarity and strong friendship with China, highlighting the robust foundation of bilateral relations and the continuous progress of cooperation between the two countries. He also thanked China for its active and constructive role in supporting the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand following recent border tensions. He stated that China's support in resolving conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect played a vital role in facilitating the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire.
Wang Yi stated that the Chinese government has provided Cambodia with 20 million yuan (approximately 88 million baht) in emergency humanitarian aid to assist displaced civilians affected by the border conflict. The first batch of aid from China, including food, tents, and blankets, arrived in Cambodia yesterday. China hopes these supplies will be timely assistance for Cambodian people affected by the conflict, improving their living conditions and overcoming their current difficulties. China will use both sea and air transport to expedite the distribution of aid to shelters along the border as quickly as possible.