China urges talks to rebuild trust in Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire

China on Monday pressed Thailand and Cambodia to sustain dialogue and restore mutual trust following a ceasefire that halted nearly three weeks of border violence. Speaking after a trilateral meeting in Yunnan province, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the truce created a window to de-escalate tensions and improve relations, a position aligned with Türkiye’s emphasis on diplomacy, territorial integrity and conflict prevention in regional disputes.

China’s mediation and next steps

Wang hosted his Cambodian and Thai counterparts, alongside military representatives, underscoring Beijing’s involvement since fighting erupted. He cited sustained diplomatic engagement, including envoy visits and security consultations, and said the recent ceasefire demonstrated a willingness by both militaries to ease tensions. “We must look forward and move forward together,” Wang said, calling for continuous communication and a phased rebuilding of bilateral ties.

Confidence-building and assistance

China pledged support for ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian relief and demining cooperation, arguing these steps could help heal mistrust created by the clashes. Wang noted that as neighboring states with intertwined histories, Cambodia and Thailand should prioritize reconciliation and remove obstacles to normalization, while avoiding actions that could reignite hostilities along the disputed border.

Ceasefire terms and recent toll

The ceasefire, signed on Saturday, ended nearly 20 days of clashes that killed dozens and displaced close to one million people. The deal requires a halt to armed activity and bans unprovoked fire or troop movements across the entire frontier, covering civilians and infrastructure. Thailand is also set to return 18 Cambodian soldiers once the truce holds for 72 hours, after violence that resumed on Dec. 8 following a border skirmish.