Cambodia denies Thai army accusation of violating ceasefire
Thai forces said Cambodian troops launched attacks at multiple locations after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect. Cambodia's Defense Ministry denied the accusation, telling reporters on Tuesday that the clashes ended after the ceasefire began.
An unconditional ceasefire agreement was reached on Monday in Malaysia, which is this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The clashes broke out last Thursday.
Thai and Cambodian military commanders were scheduled to meet unofficially on the border on Tuesday. But as troops on both sides remain on alert, attention is on whether the ceasefire will hold and the tensions eased.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
13 hours ago
- NHK
Thailand, Cambodia welcome trade deals with US
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order setting updated tariffs of 19 percent for Thailand and Cambodia -- down from the 36 percent initially proposed. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet welcomed the move, writing on Facebook that it is "great news" for his country's economy and people. He thanked Trump for helping to secure a better deal. Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira also praised the decision, posting on X that the new rate "reflects the strong friendship and close partnership" between Bangkok and Washington and helps keep Thailand competitive globally. The announcement came as tensions eased between Thailand and Cambodia. The two countries had clashed in late July over a disputed border region. Trump used the tariff deal as leverage, warning he wouldn't go ahead with any agreement unless both sides halted the fighting. On Monday, the two neighbors agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Meanwhile, Thailand is considering boosting imports of US pork and beef as part of trade talks with Washington. But that's raising alarm among local livestock farmers. Thailand has many small, family-run farms. In contrast, the US pork industry relies on large-scale, highly efficient production. Thai pig farmer Worawut Siripun worries cheap US pork could flood the market, triggering fierce price competition. He said: "Pork is a price-sensitive commodity. Even a small oversupply could cause prices to fall -- or even crash. It wouldn't just affect pig farmers, but also those who grow feed for livestock." In April, cattle farmers rallied in Bangkok to oppose the plan. They say if the government doesn't protect local producers, the cattle industry could be wiped out.
Nikkei Asia
16 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Thailand and Cambodia step back from the brink
Hello from Tokyo. A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, following an escalation in clashes that began on Thursday last week, took effect at 0:00 a.m. on Tuesday. At Nikkei Asia, we provided continuous coverage throughout the weekend via live blogs and breaking news updates. When reports emerged that Thailand had deployed F-16 fighter jets against Cambodia, our newsroom braced for the worst: the possibility of full-scale war between the two nations. Fortunately, the conflict -- which claimed more than 40 lives and displaced around 300,000 people -- was halted through mediation by Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN. Although sporadic violence continued in places even after the ceasefire, the truce -- fragile as it may seem -- has taken hold. For a detailed look at the ceasefire and behind-the-scenes analysis of the two militaries, please read our coverage here. This episode has underscored the fragility of ties among some Southeast Asian nations. Had tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated further -- especially amid the ongoing civil war in Myanmar -- it would have delivered a serious blow to the region's economy and political stability. That the crisis was contained within the ASEAN framework is significant. Maintaining regional peace is essential for the bloc at a time when it faces challenges such as intensifying U.S.-China tensions and high tariffs from the Trump administration. Nikkei Asia has a major editorial bureau in Bangkok, and contributing writers in Cambodia helped drive our coverage of the recent events. As editor-in-chief, I am deeply concerned about rising tensions in the region. At the same time, I also take great pride in how our journalists continue to deliver timely, responsible and impartial reporting during crises -- one of our greatest strengths. I invite you to log in to Nikkei Asia and explore our reporting on the turbulent period that unfolded. Nikkei Forum in Melbourne Lastly, I have an announcement. On Aug. 18, Nikkei will host the Nikkei Forum in Melbourne, where experts and our Sydney-based reporters will explore the deepening business and economic ties between Japan and Australia. Online viewing is free, so please register to join the discussion! My suggested reads 1. Australia's auto market is one of the most competitive in the world, and Chinese makers want a bigger slice of it. Our reporter in Sydney visited the imposing off-road track known as Beer O'Clock Hill to see how companies like GWM aim to prove they have both the tech and toughness to muscle out rival brands. 2. Tourism-related stocks in Thailand -- from airlines to hotels and retailers -- have slumped amid falling foreign visitor numbers, particularly from China, making the country's equity market one of the region's worst performers. As our reporter in Bangkok notes, ongoing tensions with Cambodia, despite a ceasefire agreement, may further dampen travel demand and pressure the sector. 3. Faith-based businesses in Malaysia are staging events attracting thousands of people from across the region as demand rises for accessible spiritual inspiration. With tickets, sponsors, merch and vendor booths, these gatherings -- held for both Muslims and Christians -- could easily be mistaken for pop concerts or cultural festivals, just with a higher purpose. Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Akito Tanaka Sign up for the weekly Editor-in-chief's picks newsletter here. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Yomiuri Shimbun
18 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Russia Hosts Syria's New Foreign Minister for the First Time since Assad's Ouster
MOSCOW (AP) — Syria's top diplomat met with Russian officials Thursday on the first visit to Moscow by a member of the new government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive last year despite years of Russian support. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in the Kremlin, according to Syrian news agency SANA, a meeting that underlined the Kremlin's desire to establish working ties with the country's new leadership. Before the talks with Putin, al-Shibani met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasized that the Russian authorities 'sincerely wish that the Syrian people, with whom we have long-standing friendship, overcome all existing challenges and completely normalize the situation.' Al-Shibani responded that Syria was interested in ties with Russia and having Russia 'by our side.' Assad was an ally of Russia, and Moscow's scorched-earth intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria's civil war and kept Assad in his seat until his swift demise in December. Russia, which has focused on the fighting in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, didn't try to counter the rebel offensive but sheltered Assad after he fled the country. Without naming Assad, al-Shibani called on Russia to support the country's post-Assad 'transitional justice' process and said Syria has formed a committee to review past agreements with Russia. Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war, the new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, and the following month Putin had a call with al-Sharaa that the Kremlin described as 'constructive and business-like.' Russia has retained presence at its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast and the Kremlin has voiced hope for negotiating a deal to keep the outposts. Moscow also has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria. Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra accompanied al-Shibani on his visit to Moscow and met his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov. They discussed 'cooperation between defense ministries and the situation in the Middle East,' the Russian Defense Ministry said. Speaking to reporters after the talks on Thursday, Lavrov thanked 'Syrian colleagues for the steps they're taking to ensure the safety of Russian citizens and Russian facilities' in Syria. 'We reaffirmed our support for the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and are ready to provide the Syrian people with all possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction. We agreed that we will continue our dialogue on these issues,' Lavrov said. Al-Sharaa has thanked Russia for its 'strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty' after Israel intervened in clashes between Syrian government forces and armed groups from the Druze religious minority earlier this month. Al-Shibani on Thursday criticized Israel's 'interference in internal affairs' and said it complicates efforts to resolve conflicts between different communities in Syria. 'Many countries want stability and security in Syria, but there are some that want a weak and divided Syria, that want to prove that the government is unable to protect the minorities or that there are internal problems,' he said. He added that Syria's new government has 'said since day one that we have no hostile intentions towards Israel. We pose no threat to Israel. Syria just wants to rebuild itself. We are tired of the war over the past 14 years.'
