Latest news with #ForeignMinisters'Meeting
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
News Analysis - Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line
SINGAPORE: Asean's continuing silence on mounting tensions between Thailand and Cambodia is once again testing its long-standing principle of non-interference. Deadly clashes between its two member states on July 24 left at least 12 dead more than two months after border hostilities reignited. The escalation underscores Asean's limitations in handling intra-regional disputes, experts told The Straits Times, and raises fresh questions about its relevance in managing crises among its own members. 'It is institutional inertia,' said Mr Andrew Mantong, a researcher at Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 'The region has spent decades building platforms and mechanisms for peace. Yet when war erupts in its backyard, it is diplomacy by absence.' At least 12 Thais, mostly civilians, have been killed in the latest outbreak of a long-standing border dispute. Fighting erupted in a contested area, with Cambodia accused of firing rockets into a Thai village and attacking a hospital, while Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets. In response, Thailand has closed its entire border and urged its citizens to leave Cambodia. Phnom Penh has downgraded diplomatic ties, accusing Bangkok of using excessive force. The current flare-up began in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire. Tensions have steadily escalated since, culminating in the recent air strikes and cross-border shelling. Asean has remained publicly silent throughout, although some individual members states have called for peace. The conflict was also not raised at the recent Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is the current Asean chair and when asked about the issue during a press conference on July 11, Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan called it a bilateral issue and reaffirmed the group's traditional stance of non-interference. While Asean has long prided itself on consensus-building and neutrality, Mr Andrew of CSIS said its silence in the face of open conflict is unwise and risks diminishing its standing on the world stage. That credibility has taken a further hit as Cambodia seems to have bypassed the grouping by appealing directly to the United Nations. On July 24, Cambodian media published Prime Minister Hun Manet's letter to the UN Security Council's president, Pakistan's envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, calling for an urgent meeting of the 15-member body. It is the first time in more than a decade that an Asean member has made such a request. Cambodia also made the previous request in 2011, when artillery exchanges with Thailand near the Preah Vihear temple prompted Phnom Penh to seek international intervention. The UN Security Council is expected to convene in the coming days, but observers say any outcome will likely mirror that of 2011, which had included calls for maximum restraint and for Asean to play a more active role in dispute resolution. Still, the referral itself is telling. If countries in the region feel compelled to turn to New York to manage tensions with their neighbours, it reflects a worrying lack of trust in Asean, or in any regional third party, to help defuse a conflict in its own backyard. 'The gap between Asean's aspirational vision and its operational readiness has rarely been this exposed; and I am worried that the current geopolitical contour will make it more frequently exposed,' said Mr Andrew. On Thursday (July 24), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that he had sent messages to the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, hoping to speak with them personally. Calling the situation worrying, he said that both countries are key members of Asean and close neighbours to Malaysia, adding that he hoped they would de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table. Trust a key issue? Some analysts say a key factor holding Asean back is the lack of trust between the parties involved. Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn is Cambodian, and some observers argue that Thailand may not view him as a neutral mediator. A similar impasse occurred in 2008, when Cambodia rejected mediation by then-Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, a veteran Thai diplomat, during border clashes near the Preah Vihear temple. After mediation failed, the conflict simmered without formal resolution, until 2011, when Cambodia turned to the UN following renewed violence at the same border area. However, others say the problem is structural, not personal. Ms Joanne Lin, a senior fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said the issue lies with Asean's institutional design, not the nationality of its representatives. 'The Secretariat does not have the mandate to lead politically, and decisions must come from member states,' she said, noting how back in 2011 Cambodia had similarly turned to the UN. Eventually, the case went to the International Court of Justice, which ruled in 2013 that Cambodia had sovereignty over the temple and ordered Thai troops to withdraw. That verdict helped ease tensions, but more than a decade on, diplomatic relations between the two neighbours are at their lowest in years. Bilateral channels, said Ms Lin, may no longer be viable. Still, she believes Asean has a narrow window to act. Neutral members like Indonesia or Singapore could potentially step in to broker talks or quietly facilitate de-escalation. In the last bout of fighting between the two countries in 2011 – when Indonesia was the Asean chair – then Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa undertook shuttle diplomacy to defuse tensions. He held talks with both sides in their respective capitals, and also subsequently met with the UN Security Council alongside the two nations' foreign ministers. With the current ignition of tensions, Ms Lin said, 'if Asean doesn't step up, it risks being sidelined in its own region. China, which has close ties with both countries, has already shown interest in stepping in'. China on July 24 expressed deep concern over the border clashes and offered to play a constructive role in promoting peace, urging both sides to resolve the dispute through dialogue and pledging to remain fair, impartial and supportive of regional stability. Asean would prefer that the two countries resolve the conflict bilaterally, as both are members of the regional organisation. But if that is not possible, they should resolve it peacefully through third-party mediation, said Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at business consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore. However, the non-response from Asean – as of July 24 – signifies 'collective fatigue' on the part of the group in dealing with conflict in the region, he added. The group has faced criticism for its failure to implement the five-point peace plan with Myanmar's military regime, as well as its inability to conclude negotiations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, aimed at managing tensions amid overlapping maritime claims. 'Asean is acting strategically so that it does not need to bite off more than it can chew as a multilateral organisation with a multitude of interests that are focused on regional integration,' said Dr Mustafa. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The escalation underscores Asean's limitations in handling intra-regional disputes and raises fresh questions about its relevance in managing crises among its own members. Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Asean's continuing silence on mounting tensions between Thailand and Cambodia is once again testing its longstanding principle of non-interference. Deadly clashes between its two member states on July 24 left at least 12 dead more than two months after border hostilities reignited. The escalation underscores Asean's limitations in handling intra-regional disputes, experts told The Straits Times, and raises fresh questions about its relevance in managing crises among its own members. 'It is institutional inertia,' said Mr Andrew Mantong, a researcher at Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 'The region has spent decades building platforms and mechanisms for peace. Yet when war erupts in its backyard, it is diplomacy by absence.' At least 12 Thais, mostly civilians, have been killed in the latest outbreak of a longstanding border dispute. Fighting erupted in a contested area, with Cambodia accused of firing rockets into a Thai village and attacking a hospital, while Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Singapore Singapore says prolonged suffering of civilians in Gaza is 'unconscionable' Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B In response, Thailand has closed its entire border and urged its citizens to leave Cambodia. Phnom Penh has downgraded diplomatic ties, accusing Bangkok of using excessive force. The current flare-up began in May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire. Tensions have steadily escalated since, culminating in the recent air strikes and cross-border shelling. Asean has remained publicly silent throughout, although some individual member states have called for peace. The conflict was also not raised at the recent Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia is the current Asean chair and when asked about the issue during a press conference on July 11, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan called it a bilateral issue and reaffirmed the group's traditional stance of non-interference. While Asean has long prided itself on consensus-building and neutrality, Mr Andrew of CSIS said its silence in the face of open conflict is unwise and risks diminishing its standing on the world stage. That credibility has taken a further hit as Cambodia seems to have bypassed the grouping by appealing directly to the United Nations. On July 24, the Cambodian media published Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet's letter to the UN Security Council's president, Pakistan's envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, calling for an urgent meeting of the 15-member body. It is the first time in more than a decade that an Asean member has made such a request. Cambodia also made the previous request in 2011, when artillery exchanges with Thailand near the Preah Vihear temple prompted Phnom Penh to seek international intervention. The UN Security Council is expected to convene in the coming days, but observers say any outcome will likely mirror that of 2011, which had included calls for maximum restraint and for Asean to play a more active role in dispute resolution. Still, the referral itself is telling. If countries in the region feel compelled to turn to New York to manage tensions with their neighbours, it reflects a worrying lack of trust in Asean, or in any regional third party, to help defuse a conflict in its own backyard. 'The gap between Asean's aspirational vision and its operational readiness has rarely been this exposed; and I am worried that the current geopolitical contour will make it more frequently exposed,' said Mr Andrew. On July 24, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that he had sent messages to the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, hoping to speak with them personally. Calling the situation worrying, he said that both countries are key members of Asean and close neighbours to Malaysia, adding that he hoped they would de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table. Trust a key issue? Some analysts say a key factor holding Asean back is the lack of trust between the parties involved. Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn is Cambodian, and some observers argue that Thailand may not view him as a neutral mediator. A similar impasse occurred in 2008, when Cambodia rejected mediation by then Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, a veteran Thai diplomat, during border clashes near the Preah Vihear temple. After mediation failed, the conflict simmered without formal resolution, until 2011, when Cambodia turned to the UN following renewed violence at the same border area. However, others say the problem is structural, not personal. Ms Joanne Lin, a senior fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said the issue lies with Asean's institutional design, not the nationality of its representatives. 'The Secretariat does not have the mandate to lead politically, and decisions must come from member states,' she said, noting how back in 2011, Cambodia had similarly turned to the UN. Eventually, the case went to the International Court of Justice, which ruled in 2013 that Cambodia had sovereignty over the temple and ordered Thai troops to withdraw. That verdict helped ease tensions, but more than a decade on, diplomatic relations between the two neighbours are at their lowest in years. Bilateral channels, said Ms Lin, may no longer be viable. Still, she believes Asean has a narrow window to act. Neutral members like Indonesia or Singapore could potentially step in to broker talks or quietly facilitate de-escalation. In the last bout of fighting between the two countries in 2011 – when Indonesia was the Asean chair – then Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa undertook shuttle diplomacy to defuse tensions. He held talks with both sides in their respective capitals, and also subsequently met with the UN Security Council alongside the two nations' foreign ministers. With the current ignition of tensions, Ms Lin said, 'if Asean doesn't step up, it risks being sidelined in its own region. China, which has close ties with both countries, has already shown interest in stepping in'. China on July 24 expressed deep concern over the border clashes and offered to play a constructive role in promoting peace, urging both sides to resolve the dispute through dialogue and pledging to remain fair, impartial and supportive of regional stability. Asean would prefer that the two countries resolve the conflict bilaterally, as both are members of the regional organisation. But if that is not possible, they should resolve it peacefully through third-party mediation, said Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at business consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore. However, the non-response from Asean – as of July 24 – signifies 'collective fatigue' on the part of the group in dealing with conflict in the region, he added. The group has faced criticism for its failure to implement the five-point peace plan with Myanmar's military regime, as well as its inability to conclude negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, aimed at managing tensions amid overlapping maritime claims. 'Asean is acting strategically so that it does not need to bite off more than it can chew as a multilateral organisation with a multitude of interests that are focused on regional integration,' said Dr Mustafa.
United News of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
India will continue taking action to bring terrorists, their sponsors to justice: EAM Jaishankar at SCO
Tianjin/New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) With Pakistan's Ishaq Dar listening, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today told the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin, China, that the Pahalgam attack was a deliberate attempt to disrupt stability in J&K and sow religious divide, and that India will continue to take action to bring the sponsors and financiers of terrorism to justice. In his remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tianjin, which was also attended by the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, EAM Jaishankar also asked the SCO to remain true to its founding objectives and take an uncompromising position on the scourge of terrorism. Jaishankar mentioned in posts on X regarding the points he had highlighted: 'We meet at a time of considerable disorder in the international system. In the last few years, we have seen more conflicts, competition and coercion. Economic instability is also visibly on the rise. The challenge before us is to stabilize the global order, de-risk various dimensions and through it all, address longstanding challenges that threaten our collective interests. 'The three evils that SCO was founded to combat were terrorism, separatism and extremism. Not surprisingly, they often occur together. 'Recently, we in India witnessed a graphic example in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. It was deliberately conducted to undermine the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir, while sowing a religious divide. 'The UN Security Council, of which some of us are currently members, issued a statement that condemned it in the strongest terms and 'underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice'. "We have since done exactly that and will continue doing so. It is imperative that the SCO, to remain true to its founding objectives, take an uncompromising position on this challenge. 'India has taken several initiatives in the SCO in domains ranging from startup and innovation to traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure. We will continue to positively approach new ideas and proposals that are genuinely for our collective good. It is essential that such cooperation is based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and in accordance with territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states. 'Deepening collaboration within the SCO naturally requires more trade, investment and exchanges. For that to move to the next level, it is imperative that we address some current issues. 'One of them is the lack of assured transit within the SCO space. Its absence undermines the seriousness of advocating cooperation in economic areas. Another is to ensure the promotion of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). We are confident that it will continue to gather momentum. 'Afghanistan has been long on the SCO agenda. The compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by our longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan people. The international community, particularly SCO members, must therefore step up with development assistance. India, for its part, will certainly do so. 'The world is today moving towards greater multi-polarity. This is not just in terms of redistribution of national capacities, but also the emergence of effective groupings like SCO. Our ability to contribute to the shaping of world affairs will naturally depend on how well we come together on a shared agenda. That means taking everybody on board.' UNI RN
Economic Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
‘Nations who aid terror will pay a price': How India's SCO diplomacy sends a message beyond Beijing
Synopsis At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Tianjin, India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar called for an unflinching fight against terrorism, highlighting the Pahalgam attack as proof of old threats taking new forms. He warned SCO nations against complacency, reminded them of their founding mission, and urged practical cooperation rooted in respect and sovereignty. Amid diplomatic back-and-forth with China and criticism at home, Jaishankar argued that real stability demands courage, clarity and collective resolve. IANS New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will embark on a three-day visit to China starting Sunday to attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states being held in Tianjin. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar didn't mince words in Tianjin. Facing his counterparts from China, Pakistan and other SCO members, he reminded them why the organisation exists. 'The three evils that SCO was founded to combat were terrorism, separatism and extremism. Not surprisingly, they often occur together,' he said. The recent terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April was his example — a deliberate strike aimed at tearing apart Kashmir's tourism lifeline and stoking a religious fault line. The UN Security Council echoed India's anger, condemning the attack and urging that 'perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism' must be held accountable. Jaishankar's message to the SCO was clear: stick to your founding principles or risk irrelevance. Jaishankar stressed that India has already acted and will keep acting. The country's response — Operation Sindoor — crossed into Pakistani territory and hit terror bases in PoK, targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen camps. It was a stark signal to the region: India won't sit idle while terror factories flourish next warning wasn't limited to bombs and bullets. Jaishankar pointed to a world drifting into chaos — more conflicts, more coercion, more economic uncertainty. 'In the last few years, we have seen more conflicts, competition and coercion. Economic instability is also visibly on the rise,' he said. His prescription? Countries must stabilise the global order and 'de-risk various dimensions' course, not everything he said landed smoothly. Back home, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mocked him for meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'I guess the Chinese foreign minister will come and apprise Modi about recent developments in China-India ties. The EAM is now running a full blown circus aimed at destroying India's foreign policy,' Rahul fired on X. For Jaishankar, though, the optics mattered less than the substance. 'Called on President Xi Jinping this morning in Beijing along with my fellow SCO Foreign Ministers. Conveyed the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu & Prime Minister @narendramodi. Apprised President Xi of the recent development of our bilateral ties,' he also held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Their discussion touched on the border standoff, people-to-people ties, trade blockades — all the friction points that can't be brushed under the carpet. 'Held detailed talks… Spoke about the need for a far-seeing approach… Confident that on the foundation of mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, ties can develop along a positive trajectory,' Jaishankar the drama, Jaishankar laid out India's approach to keep the SCO meaningful. First, respect each other's borders and sovereignty. 'It is essential that such cooperation is based on mutual respect, sovereign equality and in accordance with territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states,' he deepen ties in concrete ways. India's recent push ranges from startup innovation to traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure. These are practical bridges that can outlast knows talk of cooperation rings hollow without real connections. The lack of assured transit within the SCO region, he argued, stifles trade. He pressed members to get behind the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200 km freight corridor linking India with Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and Europe. If it gains steam, it can change how the region trades with itself and the final piece of Jaishankar's message focused on Afghanistan. For years, the country has been a permanent item on SCO agendas. 'The compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by our longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan people,' he said. He urged other members to step up development assistance. India, he promised, will do its the sidelines, Jaishankar met Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov — 'Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister of External Affairs of India @DrSJaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the #SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting,' Russia's Foreign Ministry posted. He caught up with Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi too: 'Good to catch up with FM @araghchi of Iran, this time on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tianjin,' Jaishankar its core, Jaishankar's message to the SCO was blunt: you can't cherry-pick what threats to ignore. Old problems — terrorism, separatism, extremism — won't fade if you keep turning a blind eye for convenience. The choice for the SCO is simple: stand firm, act together, or watch your relevance drain away one crisis at a time.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘Willing to work with India': China foreign minister at SCO meet in Beijing; echoes Jaishankar's points
China is willing to work with India to handle conflicts and differences properly, the country's foreign minister Wang Yi reportedly said in a conversation with India's S Jaishankar in Beijing on Monday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. China's foreign minister Wang Yi spoke of the need for mutual trust with India.(AP File) Wang Yi was speaking as Jaishankar also stressed at the meeting that 'differences should not become disputes, nor should competition ever become conflict'. The Chinese minister expressed his country's willingness to 'safeguard the multilateral trading system' and thus ensure 'stability of the global production and supply chain with India'. Besides, of course, the last few years' hostilities between India and China, Wang Yi's comments come also in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies for his 'America First' approach. Wang Yi said of India and China that both sides should 'trust rather than suspect each other; cooperate rather than compete with each other', news agency Reuters reported. He added that the essence of the India-China equation lay in mutual success. He also reportedly told Jaishankar that both countries should make long-term plans. 'China and India should adhere to the direction of good-neighbourliness and friendship, and find a way for mutual respect and trust, peaceful coexistence, common development and win-win cooperation,' the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported. Long-term vision in focus Earlier, India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar met Wang Yi and said the relationship requires a 'far-seeing approach'. He said that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Russia's Kazan October 2024, the ties between the countries have improved. Jaishankar said representatives of the two countries have met each other at international events and he expects that such meetings can take place in India and China itself. Both the countries have completed 75 years of diplomacy with each other, he underlined. Jaishankar brings up border issue Jaishankar also brought up the border issue, a long-standing point of contention between the two countries, during his opening remarks at the meet. He said ties between India and China have improved in the last nine months as a result of the 'resolution of friction along the border'. 'This is the fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust," he added. Jaishankar said that 'stable and constructive ties' between India and China will benefit the whole world, not just the two countries.
