China and Asean updating free trade deal
Negotiations about the so-called 3.0 version of the free trade zone started in November 2022 and were completed in May, seeking to cover areas such as the digital economy, green economy and supply chain connectivity.
China and Asean also agreed on a five-year action plan that specifies collaboration between the two sides in over 40 fields in the coming years, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing Wang's comments after attending the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Wang also said the two sides agreed to strive to complete consultations next year on a code of conduct in the South China Sea — a set of guidelines aiming to manage disputes in the region, where Beijing and several Asean members have overlapping maritime claims.
Work on the code of conduct has proceeded in fits and starts for more than two decades, during which Beijing has effectively taken control of several atolls and islets and built military installations on some of them.
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Bangkok Post
10 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Thai Foreign Ministry condemns Cambodia's repeated attacks on communities, lies
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said it 'condemns in the strongest terms' Cambodia for repeatedly attacking Thai communities and lies that Thailand fired first. The ministry issued its statement concerning artillery attacks on people's homes in the northeastern province of Surin early Sunday morning. 'This morning (27 July 2025) around 4.30 hrs., heavy artillery shots were fired into civilian homes in Surin province in Thailand by Cambodian armed forces, followed by a disinformation campaign launched by Cambodia falsely alleging Thailand fired the first shots,' the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement. 'Thailand condemns in the strongest terms this egregious and repeated violation of international law and calls on Cambodia to immediately cease attacking civilian targets,' the ministry said. It blamed Cambodia for lacking honesty and continuously violating human rights. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,' the ministry's statement read. 'Thailand reserves the inherent right to self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and has responded at limited military targets to neutralise the threats to our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the ministry said. It urged the international community to condemn 'these inhumane, reprehensible acts being committed by Cambodia which have no place in a rules-based international order.' The Foreign Ministry's statement came as border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia continued for the fourth day, just after United States President Donald Trump's call for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Second Army Region said Cambodia fired rockets from multi-barrel rocket launchers at Ta Muen Thom temple ruins in Surin on Sunday, and that the attack was "a clear violation of Thai sovereignty".
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Conflict spreads to six Thai provinces
Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day on Saturday, as a border conflict that has killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 150,000 from their homes spread across the contested frontier. Clashes broke out for the first time in the coastal region of Trat where the countries' borders meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250 kilometres southwest of the main frontlines that echoed with blasts on Saturday afternoon. AFP journalists in the Cambodian town of Samraong, near the border that has seen the bulk of the fighting, heard the thump of artillery early Saturday afternoon. A Thai villager reached by phone as he sheltered in a bunker in Si Sa Ket province, just 10 kilometres from the frontier, also reported hearing artillery. 'I just want this to end as soon as possible,' Sutian Phiewchan told AFP. Cambodia has accused Thai forces of expanding the offensive deep into its territory against non-military targets including schools, pagodas and residential areas. Thai forces fired heavy artillery shells into several Cambodian areas outside the conflict zone, Khmer Times reported, citing its defence ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata. Thailand has denied targeting non-military sites. (Story continues below) New air strike The Royal Thai Air Force said it sent two F-16s and two Gripen fighter jets to attack Cambodian military targets in the Phu Makua area of Si Sa Ket on Saturday afternoon to intercept Cambodian ballistic weapons. The site had been retaken by Thai troops earlier in the day. Another target was the area of Prasat Ta Muean Thom in Surin, where Cambodian soldiers had set up artillery and personnel to fire into Thailand. The operation successfully destroyed targets at both locations and the aircraft returned to base safely, the air force said. On Saturday, the Thai army also reported clashes in Sa Kaeo, bringing the number of border provinces involved to six out of seven. Both sides say they are open to a truce in the combat now being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining efforts to bring about a ceasefire. The Thai army asked people in its border areas to remain vigilant amid concerns that Cambodia may launch Chinese-made missiles capable of reaching targets in a 130km range, according to a post on Facebook. Siwat Rattana-Ananta, the Thai army attache in Beijing, met with Chinese officials on Friday and was assured that the country hasn't supplied Cambodia any fresh weapons since the start of the clash. All the weapons used by Phnom Penh are from prior deals, he said. Cambodia has relied on China in recent years for modernising its defence sector which includes financial and infrastructure support for the renovation of the Ream Naval Base, as well as extensive military cooperation through joint drills and equipment. In contrast, Thailand — a long-time US treaty ally — boasts squadrons of F-16 and Swedish-made Gripen combat jets and modern tanks. (Story continues below) Tensions over temples Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites before fighting spread along the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by jungle and agricultural land where local residents farm mostly rubber and rice. Cambodia's defence ministry said on Saturday that 13 people had been confirmed killed in the fighting since Thursday, including eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded. Thai authorities said 13 civilians and seven soldiers had been killed on their side, with 33 injured. The death toll across both nations is now higher than it was in the last major round of fighting between 2008 and 2011. The conflict has also forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, and more than 35,000 driven from their homes in Cambodia. After an urgent UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday, Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted a ceasefire. 'Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire — unconditionally — and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute,' he told reporters. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said Saturday that for any ceasefire or talks to proceed, Cambodia needed to show 'genuine sincerity in ending the conflict'. Both sides have blamed the other for firing first. (Story continues below) Trading accusations Additionally, Cambodia has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station and 7-Eleven in Si Sa Ket struck by at least one rocket, killing eight civilians. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited shelters in Ubon Ratchathani on Saturday to meet evacuees. 'The military needs to complete its operations before any dialogue can take place,' Thaksin told reporters.
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
UN Security Council calls for de-escalation of clashes
The United Nations Security Council has called on Thailand and Cambodia to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, cease hostilities and solve their border dispute through peaceful means. The message was conveyed during a closed-door meeting at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, where all 15 Security Council members, along with Thai and Cambodian representatives, exchanged views on the conflict. 'The Security Council did not adopt any resolution or issue a formal statement, but the overall consensus was clear,' Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said on Saturday. 'Members urged both parties to exercise restraint, reduce tensions, cease armed attacks and solve the conflict peacefully through diplomatic and bilateral channels based on good neighbourly principles.' Mr Maris made the comments at a briefing at the ministry in Bangkok, having just returned from New York where he had been attending a forum on sustainable development. He added that Security Council members also expressed support for Asean's role in enabling dialogue under the Asean Charter, and stressed that the conflict does not constitute a threat to international security. He also thanked Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Asean chair, for his ceasefire proposal, which Thailand supports in principle — provided Cambodia halts its attacks and demonstrates sincerity. 'Cambodia must show evidence of good faith to end this conflict,' Mr Maris said 'We remain open to constructive engagement with Malaysia and other Asean partners. I have been in direct contact with Prime Minister Anwar on this issue.' When asked whether Thailand would consider pursuing legal action against Cambodia at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr Maris said the matter was being reviewed by the ministry's Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs. Also at the briefing, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura condemned Cambodia's recent artillery strikes on civilian areas in Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. As of Saturday, he said, 13 Thai civilians had died with 33 injured from the Cambodian strikes. Seven Thai soldiers have also been killed.
