Latest news with #DefenceMinisters
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Anwar stresses Malaysia's commitment to helping resolve Thailand-Cambodia border tensions
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 7 — Malaysia will continue to play the role of facilitator in helping to resolve the border issue between Thailand and Cambodia, as agreed by both countries, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'Alhamdulillah, at least for now, they want Malaysia to continue coordinating. They've given their commitment to comply with the conditions to ensure the ceasefire is fully observed. '… and for that, we will continue to play our role. There are one or two minor issues today, which we hope can be resolved,' he said during the Budget 2026 Engagement Session here today. Anwar said he had met with Cambodia's Defence Minister General Tea Seiha and Thailand's Acting Defence Minister General Natthaphon Narkphanit earlier today before attending the engagement session. 'I had discussions with both defence ministers just now. The Asean Defence Attaché Observer Team will help to monitor the situation, and we believe there is no longer any need for full Asean intervention,' he added. '…and China and the United States are not involved in monitoring the border. They are only offering cooperation and logistical assistance if necessary, and, of course, we indicate a need for it. But this remains a matter between the two countries, coordinated by Malaysia and fully supported by Asean,' Anwar said. Anwar said that during the courtesy visit, all parties also spelt out the steps that must be taken, as the situation involves a border area that remains disputed. 'But I said, regardless of the dispute, there's no need to shoot people, whether soldiers or civilians. Currently, around 300,000 people from both countries have been displaced, becoming refugees who must be relocated to more secure and controlled areas. 'So we must look after their interests. Today, the Defence Ministers are working to resolve things in more detail. So my discussion focused first on maintaining the ceasefire. 'Secondly, on the continuation of the GBC (General Border Committee) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC). These two levels — GBC and RBC — will continue with the agreement of the respective Defence Ministers and Cabinets of both countries. They have again entrusted us to help resolve the matter between the two nations, with Malaysia acting as coordinator,' he said. Anwar said that since the initial ceasefire agreement was signed on July 28, no major incidents have occurred in the conflict area. 'So I would like to express my thanks especially to our Chief of Defence Forces (General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar), who immediately went to the ground that very night. The negotiations concluded around 6 pm, and by 10 pm, the Defence Forces Chief was already at the border to negotiate with his counterparts — the generals — both at the border and in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. 'That's why I say this kind of cooperation is extremely meaningful. Almost daily, I've been in contact with both the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, as well as other partners, to ensure this effort truly succeeds,' he said. — Bernama
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Thailand-Cambodia tensions: US, China send representatives to join border talks in Malaysia
Defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia will meet on Aug 7 in Malaysia on the final day of ongoing talks to keep alive a tenuous truce reached late last month. This is their first face-to-face meeting after hostilities broke out two weeks ago. What started as a border conflict between two ASEAN neighbours has now also seen an active interest from both the US and China. Defence ministers from Thailand and Cambodia will meet on Aug 7 in Malaysia on the final day of ongoing talks to keep alive a tenuous truce reached late last month. This is their first face-to-face meeting after hostilities broke out two weeks ago. What started as a border conflict between two ASEAN neighbours has now also seen an active interest from both the US and China.
Khaleej Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Ukraine invited to Nato summit in Hague this month
Ukraine has been invited to a Nato summit in The Hague this month, Mark Rutte, the military bloc's chief, said on Wednesday, without specifying whether this meant Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky would attend. "I invited Ukraine to the summit. We will as soon as possible bring out the programme with more details," Rutte told reporters before a meeting with defence ministers in Brussels. Asked whether Zelensky personally had been invited, Rutte only said the programme would be published in due course.
SBS Australia
01-06-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Growing alarm over China's expanding military posture dominates Shangri-La Dialogue
In Singapore, tensions and alliances were on full display at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security summit that has become the most important defence forum in the Asia-Pacific. Growing alarm over China's expanding military posture and its nuclear ambitions. The strongest warnings came from Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, who says China's rapid nuclear expansion and military buildup is reshaping the region's security landscape. 'We are invested in shaping the geostrategic environment. China's decision to pursue rapid nuclear modernisation and expansion, which aims, in part, to reach parity with or surpass the United States, is another reason the future of strategic arms control must be revitalised.' He also has warned of the dangers of weapons of mass destruction, saying arms control frameworks need to be strengthened to keep up with growing risks and advances in technology across the Pacific and elsewhere. "China's decision to pursue rapid nuclear modernisation and expansion, which aims in part to reach parity with or surpass the United States, is another reason the future of strategic arms control must be revitalised. We also have to counter the grim, potentially imminent, possibility of another wave of global nuclear proliferation as states seek security in a new age of imperial ambition." The remarks came after United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific, describing it as a strategic priority. He issued this stark warning. "It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. We know. It's public that (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping) has ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. The PLA is building the military needed to do it, training for it everyday and rehearsing for the real deal. ... Any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world." At the same forum, Mr Hegseth urged nations across the region to ramp up their defence spending, suggesting a benchmark of five per cent of GDP, in line with recent NATO commitments. In response, Mr Marles acknowledged the indispensable role of the United States, but stressed that the responsibility can't lie with Washington alone. "The commitment underscored by U-S Secretary of Defense Hegseth today, that the Indo-Pacific is the United States strategic priority is deeply welcomed. Reality is that there is no effective balance of power in this region, absent the United States. But we cannot leave it to the United States alone. Other countries must contribute to this balance as well and that includes Australia." That commitment was reinforced in a high-level trilateral meeting between defence chiefs from the US, Australia and Japan. Held on the sidelines of the summit, the meeting saw the three allies agree to expand their joint military exercises and strengthen cooperation on defence technology. 'This trilateral work is truly critical to deterring China and maintaining peace and strength in the Indo-Pacific. America's alliances with Japan and Australia are built on common values, common shared interests, and common sense. ... We're also streamlining rotational deployments in Australia and Japan while enhancing our combined strategic planning.' But not everyone at the summit welcomed the rhetoric. Beijing's representative, Rear Admiral Hu Gangfeng, struck back at the growing alignment between Western and regional powers, accusing them of fear-mongering and misrepresentation. 'We do not accept groundless accusations against China. Some of the claims are completely fabricated, some distort facts, and some are cases of a thief crying 'stop thief.' These actions are nothing more than attempts to provoke trouble, incite division, and stir up confrontation to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region. This goes against the trend of the times, lacks popular support, and is bound to fail.' China's Defence Minister Dong Jun was notably absent from this year's conference, in what was seen as a diplomatic snub amid rising tensions over U-S tariffs and growing defence ties between Washington, Canberra, and Tokyo. President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that while France supports strategic autonomy, it cannot promise military involvement in any potential conflict involving China in the Pacific. 'Our role is not to be a substitute to anybody, but our role is to work for ourselves to improve our strategic autonomy, meaning our own capacity to protect our sole, but through the cooperation we have to help the ASEAN countries to do the same for themselves, and to reduce on both sides our dependencies. And we have to do it at a time when there is an increase in the threats and the strategic risks.' Mr Macron also used his address to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and mutual recognition of a Palestinian state.
