Thailand, Cambodia approve ceasefire
Following efforts by Malaysia, chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, the United States and China to bring both sides to the table, the two countries' leaders agreed to end hostilities, resume direct communications and create a mechanism to implement the ceasefire.
"This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told a news conference, flanked by the Thai and Cambodian leaders, following more than two hours of negotiations at his residence in Putrajaya.
The truce talks followed a sustained effort by Anwar and US President Donald Trump's phone calls to both leaders at the weekend, where he said he would not conclude trade deals with them if fighting continued. Both sides face a tariff of 36% on their goods in the US, their biggest export market.
Trump in a post on Truth Social on Monday congratulated all parties and said he spoken to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and instructed his trade team to restart negotiations. "By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives ... I have now ended many Wars in just six months - I am proud to be the President of PEACE!," Trump said.
Decades of disputes
The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over border territory and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides.
A full-blown diplomatic crisis ensued that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. They accuse each other of starting the fighting last week that escalated quickly from small arms fire to the use of heavy artillery and rockets at multiple points along their 800-km (500-mile) land border.
Thailand unexpectedly sent an F-16 fighter jet to carry out airstrikes hours after the conflict erupted. At least 38 people have been killed in the fighting, mostly civilians.
Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayacha praised Trump for pushing the peace effort and said trade negotiations would start from a good place. "I thanked him from my heart for what we received from him and helped our country move beyond this crisis," he told reporters on his return from Malaysia after speaking to Trump. "After today the situation should de-escalate." Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India braces for higher US tariffs, eyes broader trade deal
NEW DELHI: India is preparing to face higher US tariffs — likely between 20% and 25% — on some of its exports as a temporary measure, as it holds off on fresh trade concessions ahead of Washington's August 1 deadline, two Indian government sources said. Instead, New Delhi plans to resume broader trade negotiations when a US delegation visits in mid-August, with the goal of finalising a comprehensive bilateral agreement by September or October, one of the Indian officials told Reuters. 'Talks are progressing well, and a delegation is expected in Delhi by mid-August,' one of the Indian government officials said, adding that President Donald Trump could issue a tariff letter imposing duties of 20 or 25% in a 'worst-case scenario'. 'However, we assume it would be a temporary measure, considering the five rounds of trade talks that have taken place. A deal will soon be worked out,' the official said.
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
US says Trump has 'final call' on China trade truce
China and the United States agreed Tuesday to hold further talks on extending their tariff truce, but a top US trade official stressed that President Donald Trump would make any "final call." The world's top two economies met for a second day of negotiations in Stockholm, with both sides seeking to avert tariffs from returning to sky-high levels that had ground trade between the rivals to an effective standstill. The meeting in a Swedish government building, led on the Chinese side by Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the Americans, ended without a resolution but with the US side voicing optimism. US, China hold new talks on tariff truce Neither government has made public any details from the talks, which started on Monday, although US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Trump would have the "final call" on any extension in the truce. "Nothing has been agreed until we speak with President Trump," added Bessent, calling the tone of the talks "very constructive". The negotiations are taking place in the wake of a trade deal struck over the weekend that set US tariffs on most European Union imports at 15 percent, but none on American goods going to the EU. The truce between China and the United States has temporarily set fresh US duties on Chinese goods at 30 percent, while Chinese levies on trade in the other direction stand at 10 percent. That accord, reached in Geneva in May, brought down triple-digit tariffs each side had levelled at the other after a trade war sparked by Trump spiralled into a tit-for-tat bilateral escalation. The 90-day truce is meant to end on August 12. But there are indications both delegations want to use the Stockholm talks to push the date back further. The South China Morning Post, citing sources on both sides, reported on Sunday that Washington and Beijing are expected to extend their tariff pause by a further 90 days. Trump said he would be briefed again by Bessent on Wednesday. "We'll either approve it or not," he told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from Scotland. Trump's threats Separately, Trump has threatened to hit dozens of other countries with stiffer tariffs from Friday this week unless they reach trade deals with Washington. Among them are Brazil and India, with the South American giant facing a threat of 50 percent tariffs. Asked about Friday's deadline, Bessent told CNBC: "It's not the end of the world if these snapback tariffs are on for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, as long as the countries are moving forward and trying to negotiate in good faith." Trump has already announced deal outlines with five countries -- Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines -- as well as the one with the 27-nation EU. Beijing says it wants to see "reciprocity" in its trade with the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said dialogue was needed "to reduce misunderstandings". The previous round of China-US talks was held in London. Analysts said many of the trade deals Trump has been publicising were leaning more on optics than on details. Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, a firm that advises on currency exchange and commodities, said an extension of the 90-day truce between China and the United States could reinforce that view.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Trump approval rating sinks to 40%, the lowest of his term
US President Donald Trump gestures before boarding Air Force One as he returns to Washington, D.C., in Lossiemouth, Scotland, Britain, July 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters Listen to article US President Donald Trump's approval rating dropped one percentage point to 40%, the lowest level of his second term in office, as Americans remained concerned about his handling of the economy and immigration, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The three-day poll, which closed on Monday, surveyed 1,023 US adults nationwide and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. It showed a nation deeply polarized over Trump, with 83% of Republicans and just 3% of Democrats approving of his performance. About one-third of independents approved. Trump had a 41% approval rating in Reuters/Ipsos' most recent prior poll, conducted on July 15 and 16. The Republican campaigned on promises to supercharge the US economy and crack down on immigration, and the poll found that Americans gave him mixed marks on both those areas, where his administration is using aggressive tactics. Some 38% of respondents approved of Trump's handling of the economy, up from 35% approval in the mid-July poll. His numbers were also up slightly on immigration, with 43% of respondents approving, compared with 41% in the earlier poll.
