Thai-Cambodia Conflict: Peace Talks To Start In Malaysia Amid US Mediation
The talks are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), with Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai leading the Thai delegation, the government announced in a statement on Sunday night.
In a notable development, the United States has confirmed its officials are already on the ground in Malaysia to support the peace initiative, as leaders from both nations prepare to meet.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump and he have been in contact with their counterparts in both countries and are closely monitoring the situation.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have been rising since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier in a border skirmish. Clashes resumed on July 24, escalating quickly into the most severe conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in more than a decade.
Key Top Points on the Thailand-Cambodia Clashes:
1. Thai Acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian PM Hun Manet will meet on Monday for high-level talks, seeking to end the deadliest confrontation between the two nations in over ten years. The meeting follows US President Donald Trump's reported use of tariff threats to push for a ceasefire.
2. This will be the first formal round of talks since the clashes reignited on July 24, and comes within 48 hours of Trump's announcement that both leaders had agreed to "quickly work out a ceasefire." Trump expressed confidence in the process, calling it "an easy one."
3. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also held conversations with the foreign ministers of both Thailand and Cambodia, urging immediate de-escalation and reaffirming US support for the peace process. Despite diplomatic outreach, both countries accused each other on Sunday of launching heavy artillery strikes.
4. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday voiced deep concern over the violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border. He called for an immediate ceasefire and encouraged both sides to resolve their issues through peaceful dialogue.
5. The conflict, which escalated after months of simmering border tensions, has so far killed over 30 people and displaced more than 150,000 civilians on both sides of the border.
6. Thailand has reported 22 deaths, including eight soldiers, while Cambodia has confirmed 13 fatalities, including five military personnel.
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Time of India
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Australia, India, Japan, US declare economic war on China's rare earth empire
Foreign ministers from the Quad nations- Australia, India, Japan, and the United States- convened in Washington earlier this month and unveiled a robust strategy designed to counteract China's coercive influence in the Indo-Pacific, as reported by The Japan Times earlier this month. The leaders launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative , explicitly targeting China's monopolistic dominance of rare earths and critical materials vital to defence and high-tech industries. The joint statement affirmed their determination "to uphold a region free from coercion" and oppose "any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion". Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category In language thinly veiled yet unmistakably directed at Beijing, the Quad ministers expressed "deep concern" about the reliability of supply chains dependent on a single actor and criticised China's economic pressure tactics, price manipulation, and threat to critical infrastructure security. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo At the summit hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Quad countries committed to diversifying their sources of lithium, nickel, graphite, and other strategic minerals. Rubio emphasised that resilience in supply chains is essential to safeguard against Beijing's ability to weaponise trade flows, reinforcing the need for allied cooperation to break free from China's industrial grip. Analysts see this move as part of a broader strategy to economically sideline China. The Japan Times in its article on July 2 noted that the initiative is "an ambitious expansion" of the Quad's partnership and a clear attempt to undercut Beijing's regional leverage. China's dominance in critical mineral processing has raised alarms about future industrial disruption and geopolitical manipulation. Live Events Strategic voices within and outside of the group warn against complacency. Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking at a US congressional hearing, recalled Beijing's retaliatory trade sanctions against Australia and urged deeper coordination with Quad partners to counter Chinese economic coercion. Likewise, former US ambassador Rahm Emanuel advocated for a NATO-style "anti-coercion coalition" pooling diplomatic and economic power to deter Beijing's global bullying. China's muted response to the Quad communique marks a notable departure from its past alarm, leading analysts to suggest that Beijing may be quietly assessing its options as its dominance over rare earth markets comes under strain. Beyond critical minerals, the Quad summit addressed broader challenges: increasing military assertiveness in the East and South China Seas, cyber threats, and North Korea's destabilising activity. All ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and rule-of-law principles in the region. While still informal, the Quad's evolving cohesion signals a significant shift in the Indo-Pacific security architecture. As The Japan Times reports, its bold new initiative sends a clear message: regional democracies will not tolerate Beijing's attempts at economic subjugation and geopolitical coercion.
