Thailand-Cambodia border tensions eased: A triumph for ASEAN diplomacy
The immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreed upon by both sides marks a significant diplomatic victory for ASEAN. Malaysia, serving as ASEAN Chair in 2025, played a pivotal role in de-escalating a situation from spiralling into a full-scale military conflict.
Prof Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman, an expert in international relations from Universiti Utara Malaysia's School of International Studies (SoIS), hailed the development as a major diplomatic breakthrough for the region.
'Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has done brilliantly and, without hesitation, put ASEAN first and influenced other member states to do the same,' he told Bernama.
He said Malaysia has once again demonstrated its capability to uphold and maintain peace and security – not only regionally but also as a potential player on the global stage.
As ASEAN Chair, Muhammad Fuad noted that the Prime Minister acted decisively by 'invoking his good office' to defuse tensions before they could escalate into open conflict.
'With the support of major powers, namely the United States and China, it is hoped that both parties will fully and unconditionally honour the ceasefire,' he added.
He stressed that the outcome reflects ASEAN diplomacy at its best, characterised by quiet strength, regional unity, and an unwavering commitment to peace.
'The ASEAN region has enjoyed relative peace since the end of World War II and especially following the Cold War, laying the foundation for economic growth and long-term stability.
'ASEAN simply cannot afford internal conflicts among its members, as it risks undermining decades of progress built on mutual respect and adherence to the ASEAN Way,' he said.
He said Malaysia's swift and principled response under Anwar's leadership reaffirms ASEAN's core values and sends a strong signal that ASEAN cannot and will not allow internal strife to undermine its unity.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia's Associate Professor of the School of Social Sciences, Dr Benny Teh Cheng Guan, described the achievement as a significant and positive development for regional diplomacy.
As ASEAN chair, Teh said Malaysia has 'stepped up to the plate' by extending its 'good offices' to mediate the issue.
'This is a positive step. The fact that Thailand and Cambodia chose to meet in Putrajaya and agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire reflects the respect they have for Malaysia's leadership role and their willingness to work out their differences in the spirit of ASEAN,' he said.
'I think Malaysia's relentless efforts in a way demonstrate the need to show a unified ASEAN that is capable of overcoming internal strife on its own.
'If the ceasefire holds and diplomacy prevails, it will certainly be an achievement for Malaysia's chairmanship,' he said.
He added that the development also reaffirms ASEAN's capacity to uphold peace and regional stability from within.
The border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia began with a brief skirmish on May 28, escalating into a direct armed conflict that erupted on July 24.
As of July 26, the hostilities had claimed at least 32 lives and displaced up to 200,000 people across the affected border regions.
However, sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis culminated in face-to-face talks in Putrajaya yesterday, facilitated by Malaysia in its capacity as ASEAN Chair. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
5 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Malaysia in a shifting world order
COMMENT | The global geopolitical landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. For decades, American dominance economically, militarily, and diplomatically has defined the post–Cold War international order. Today, that dominance is increasingly challenged by emerging powers and shifting global alignments. The rise of competing powers, growing distrust of US intentions, and the resurgence of nationalist economic policies, particularly under Donald Trump's second term, are accelerating the fragmentation of global power. In place of a US-led unipolar order, a multipolar world is emerging, one increasingly defined by the rivalry between the United States, an emerging axis of Russia-China-India (RCI), and a recalibrated European Union. Trump's recent moves to impose tariffs on a wide swath of countries, including traditional allies like the European Union, Canada, South Korea, and India, mark a decisive...
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Taiwan simulation reveals Singapore as lifeline
THE exercise presented a fraught scenario: China's military had blockaded Taiwan by air and sea, and Southeast Asian countries were grappling with how to evacuate as many as one million of their nationals trapped on the besieged island. Over two days in April at a Singapore hotel, some 40 participants and observers in the war game, including serving and retired Asia-Pacific officials and military officers, as well as security scholars, simulated their responses to the unfolding crisis, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Hours ticked by as some players weighed unified action through Asean, while others reached out to the mock United States, Chinese and Japanese delegates to negotiate special air and sea corridors to extract foreign nationals. Eventually, the people said, a stark conclusion emerged: Southeast Asian states needed a Singaporean airlift to have a chance of evacuating their people. "Nothing was moving until the Singaporeans stepped in at the 11th hour," said one participant in the event at the Jen Singapore Tanglin hotel. "They had found a way of getting their own people out, and offered to get others out, too." Reflecting its discreet and decades-old security presence inside Taiwan, where its forces train, Singapore was able to leverage access to airfields and aircraft, said the person. But the exercise ended before any detailed discussion of how Singapore had reached a deal with China to secure an evacuation route through the blockade, or how precisely it would work, said three of the people. Southeast Asians account for about 94 per cent of the almost one million foreign residents in Taiwan, according to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency. Indonesians, Vietnamese and Filipinos make up the vast majority of those foreigners, with comparatively small numbers of Japanese and Americans. Singapore's Defence Ministry said it wasn't involved in the "workshop" and none of its officials attended in any capacity. China's Foreign Ministry said it wasn't aware of the circumstances of the exercise. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, which organised the exercise, said participants had attended in their private capacities, and that it could not comment on "discussions, attendees, or any other elements". Drew Thompson, a Singapore-based security scholar, said it was vital for Southeast Asian countries to move beyond war games and contingency discussions to build meaningful, unofficial ties with Taiwan, particularly its military. These countries have diplomatic ties with Beijing and don't officially recognise Taipei. "The big takeaway here is that a plan is one thing but you need the access and the relationships to put it into play," said Thompson, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, who wasn't involved in the exercise. "Singapore has long had these ties, the Philippines is building them, but it remains an open question whether the other countries in Southeast Asia have the unofficial networks in place to meaningfully engage with Taiwan in a conflict." Given recent drills in which Chinese vessels encircled Taiwan, some military attaches and analysts say any attempt by Beijing to seize the island could start with a blockade, which would be considered an act of war under international law. The risks are felt acutely in Singapore, a financial and shipping hub that hosts US Navy ships and surveillance aircraft yet maintains strong cultural, diplomatic and economic ties with China. Singaporean forces have conducted military training in Taiwan since 1975, under an arrangement known as Project Starlight. The presence is seldom publicly acknowledged by officials in Singapore, which does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. But it remains important to Singapore's defence forces, according to seven diplomats and security scholars familiar with the matter. Singapore rotates up to 3,000 infantry troops and commandos annually through three training camps in southern Taiwan, according to five of the seven people. Singapore's forces also train regularly in Australia, France, Brunei and the US. Yet an outbreak of war in Taiwan could trap Singapore's forces there or render them bargaining chips that could give China military and diplomatic leverage over Singapore, according to some analysts and military attaches. The writers are from Reuters
Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Malaysia reaffirms commitment to effective South China Sea Code of Conduct
The Asean delegations in a photo call during the 48th Meeting of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DOC (JWG-DOC) and the 24th Asean-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC (SOM-DOC) – Photo from Wisma Putra KUCHING (Aug 11): Malaysia has reiterated its commitment to advancing a substantive and effective Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, underscoring the importance of peace, security, and stability in the Asean region. The Foreign Affairs Ministry (Wisma Putra) in a statement said the COC, currently being negotiated by Asean Member States and China, aims to address key issues in the disputed waters constructively, while fostering mutual trust, confidence-building and constructive dialogue among the parties. 'It is also envisaged to serve as a meaningful instrument in ensuring the peaceful resolution of disputes and the prevention of tensions in the region. 'The negotiations are being held under the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which was signed on Nov 4, 2002, as a shared commitment between Asean and China,' the statement read. According to the ministry, five rounds of COC negotiations have been scheduled this year with one in Jakarta in February, Manila in April, Kuching in August, Singapore in September, and China in November. 'Malaysia remains deeply committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the DOC by all parties. 'At the same time, Malaysia remains committed to advancing a substantive and effective COC that constructively addresses key issues in the South China Sea, while safeguarding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and national interests,' it said. Wisma Putra noted that efforts on both the DOC and COC reflect Malaysia's ongoing role in fostering regional dialogue and cooperation under the Asean-China framework, particularly in promoting peace, stability and mutual trust in the South China Sea. This week, Malaysia is hosting the 48th Meeting of the Asean-China Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DOC (JWG-DOC) and the 24th Asean-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the DOC (SOM-DOC) in Kuching from Aug 11 to 14. The last time Malaysia hosted the meetings was in 2019. In addition to chairing Asean in 2025, Malaysia is also serving as the Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations from Aug 2024 to July 2027, co-chairing discussions with China on the DOC's implementation and the COC negotiations.
