Cambodian and Thai officials meet in Malaysia to iron out ceasefire details
The four-day General Border Committee meetings were initially due to be hosted by Cambodia, but both sides later agreed to a neutral venue in Malaysia, the annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has mediated the halt in hostilities last month.
The July 28 ceasefire followed economic pressure from President Donald Trump, who had warned the two warring nations that the U.S. would not conclude trade deals with them if the fighting persisted. Washington lowered tariffs on goods from the two countries from 36% to 19% on Aug. 1 following the truce.
Monday's talks focused on ironing out details to avoid further clashes. Discussions of the decades-long competing territorial claims over the pockets of land near the shared border are not on the agenda.
Thailand and Cambodia have been feuding neighbors for centuries, since both were mighty empires. In modern times, a 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarding Cambodia the land on which the ancient Preah Vihear temple stands marked a new low point in relations, and other border territory remained claimed by both countries.
Fighting erupted in 2011 at Preah Vihaer, after which the International Court of Justice in 2013 reaffirmed its earlier ruling, rankling Thailand. Relations deteriorated again sharply in May this year, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in a brief fracas in one of the disputed border zones, setting off diplomatic and trade sanctions, one against the other.
Soon after two incidents last month in which Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines in disputed territory, for which Thailand blamed Cambodia, the two sides downgraded diplomatic relations and fighting broke out, each side blaming the other for starting the armed clashes.
Thai Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Natthaphon Nakpanit is leading a delegation that includes representatives of all branches of the military, in addition to the police force and the ministries of foreign affairs, interior and defense, as well as the National Security Council.
Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri in Bangkok said the main session of the General Border Committee on Thursday would include observers from Malaysia, the United States and China.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha is leading Cambodia's delegation, accompanied by armed forces commander Gen. Vong Pisen.
Despite the truce, tensions have persisted as both countries organized tours of the former battle areas for foreign diplomats and other observers to highlight damage allegedly caused by the other side. The two countries also continue to accuse each other of having violated international humanitarian laws with attacks on civilians and the use of illegal weapons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
3 minutes ago
The costs of Trump's tariffs are starting to add up for Americans. Here's how
Little by little, the costs of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are starting to show for American businesses and consumers. News of the tariff impact is mounting, from the Detroit Three automakers (new window) announcing they'll face extra costs this year totalling into the billions, to the stainless steel cookware manufacturer (new window) in Tennessee hit with a $75,000 US tariff bill on one shipment, right down to the coffee shops (new window) considering boosting the price of a cup because of tariffs on Brazil. Until recently, companies have somewhat shielded U.S. consumers from the full effects of the tariffs, either by rushing supplies into the country ahead of Trump's deadlines or absorbing the levies as a cost of doing business. But with tariffs on imports from roughly 100 U.S. trading partners due to rise this week (new window) from their current baseline of 10 per cent, tariff-related costs are headed nowhere but up. Alex Durante, senior economist of the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based policy and advocacy group, says the tariffs are hitting a broad range of U.S. businesses that rely on imports. I think the administration is going to have a really hard time trying to convince the American people that some of the price increases they're seeing are because of other factors not related to the tariffs, Durante said in an interview with CBC News. I just don't think most people are going to be fooled by that, he said. WATCH | Carney's point man on tariffs takes Canada's message to U.S. television: Trump, cabinet deny tariffs costing Americans While on a macro level the U.S. economy is generally chugging along just fine (new window) despite Trump's tactics, there's some fresh data suggesting the tariffs are acting as a drag: Trump and his cabinet members quickly brush aside any evidence that the tariffs are costing Americans, with the president even firing the head of the federal statistics agency (new window) that produces the country's employment report. We have a lot of money coming in, much more money than the country has ever seen, by hundreds of billions of dollars, Trump said Sunday when a reporter asked about tariffs. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer flat-out denied that Trump's tariffs policies are a factor in the jobs slump. I don't read tariff policy into that number, Greer told the CBS program Face the Nation (new window) on Sunday. Enlarge image (new window) Coffee producer Ricardo Rufino Jr. shows off processed coffee beans at Boa Esperanca farm in Braganca Paulista, Brazil, on Monday. The country is facing the prospect of 50 per cent tariffs on its products exported to the U.S., leaving some American coffee shops considering whether they'll have to raise prices. Photo: Associated Press / Andre Penner But if you're willing to look around, you can find plenty of examples of U.S. businesses feeling the pinch. Reuters news agency is compiling examples of how major companies around the world are responding to Trump's tariffs, such as hiking prices and issuing profit warnings. Retailers, big brands raising prices The Reuters tracker (new window) currently shows 22 U.S. companies raising prices, including retail giants (Walmart, Best Buy), footwear brands (Nike, Crocs, Birkenstock) and big-name makers of household goods (Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, Clorox). It's hard to imagine many American consumers haven't bought something from those businesses this year. Other big-name U.S. firms have in recent days reported tariff impacts: Tech giant Apple (new window) says it faced $800 million in tariff-related costs last quarter alone, and expects that to rise to $1.1 billion this quarter. says it faced $800 million in tariff-related costs last quarter alone, and expects that to rise to $1.1 billion this quarter. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (new window) blames tariffs in part for a 5.1 per cent quarterly decline in revenue in its consumer goods division, which includes brands like Fruit of the Loom. blames tariffs in part for a 5.1 per cent quarterly decline in revenue in its consumer goods division, which includes brands like Fruit of the Loom. Tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker (new window) estimates its tariff costs will hit $800 million this year. Those corporate figures don't touch on another trend emerging in the U.S. economy: the downturn in visits by international travellers, dramatically so from Canada (new window) . Perhaps that's not exactly tariff-related, but Trump slamming other nations on trade by describing them as nasty, unfair and ripping off the U.S. is not exactly what you'd call a warm and welcoming tourism ad campaign either. WATCH | Economist says Canada has a better deal on Trump's tariffs than other countries: Higher prices could impact public opinion While some polling (new window) suggests more Americans disapprove of tariffs than approve, the issue does not appear to be a crucial source of public-opinion damage to Trump and the Republicans — at least not yet. That could change if the tariff costs on businesses accumulate so much that consumers can't help but see the impact. We know from the most recent presidential election that voters really disliked seeing higher prices, said Durante. He sees trouble ahead whether businesses pass along all, some or none of the extra tariff costs to consumers. If they're absorbing the price increases, that's less money that they could use to invest in their own businesses and jobs and further production, Durante said. So, even if we don't see the tariffs fully impacting final consumer prices, these are still some pretty harmful effects. Mike Crawley (new window) · CBC News · Senior reporter Mike Crawley has covered Ontario politics for CBC News since 2009. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in B.C., spent six years as a freelance journalist in various parts of Africa, then joined the CBC in 2005. Mike was born and raised in Saint John, N.B. Follow Mike Crawley on Twitter (new window)
Toronto Star
33 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Bangladesh marks anniversary of Hasina's ouster with pledges for a stronger democracy
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh 's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday marked the anniversary of last year's student-led uprising by saying its spirit would build the future of the South Asian nation's democracy. Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his past work developing microcredit markets, spoke as the nation commemorated the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to neighboring India. But the event was held amid growing frustration over the interim administration's failure to restore order and bring political bickering under control.
Winnipeg Free Press
33 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bangladesh marks anniversary of Hasina's ouster with pledges for a stronger democracy
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh 's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday marked the anniversary of last year's student-led uprising by saying its spirit would build the future of the South Asian nation's democracy. Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his past work developing microcredit markets, spoke as the nation commemorated the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to neighboring India. But the event was held amid growing frustration over the interim administration's failure to restore order and bring political bickering under control. Yunus, flanked by senior leaders of major political parties, announced a road map aimed at national unity, democratic reforms and inclusive governance. A student group that led the anti-Hasina movement had formed a new political party, National Citizen Party, and campaigned for the declaration. Senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and the Jamaat-e-Islami party were present Tuesday. Zia is Hasina's archrival, and her party is the main contender for power in the next election, expected early next year. The Yunus-led administration has banned the former ruling party, which had governed Bangladesh for 15 years since 2009. Hasina remains in exile. She faces trial for crimes against humanity over the hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising. On Tuesday, leaders of the major political parties failed to agree on an exact schedule for the election. Yunus had said it would be held in April, but Zia's party wants it in February. The Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party say they have no objection to giving Yunus more time. The presence of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, the country's largest Islamist party, was especially visible Tuesday on the streets of the capital, Dhaka. The supporters of its student wing carried the flags of Bangladesh and Palestine. Bangladesh is at a crossroads, with bickering political parties struggling to find a way forward with inclusive politics. The rise of the Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist forces has drawn attention since Hasina's ouster. Yunus has promised an internationally acceptable election, but his critics say the election could be questionable without the Awami League party as it still has a significant support base.
