Asean
Cambodia, Thai Commanders Reach Cease-Fire Agreement
Cambodia and Thailand moved closer to ending the fighting on their border with reports of a cease-fire agreement. Indonesian officials have worked to mediate in the dispute, which has left at least 15 people dead and forced thousands on both sides of the border to flee their homes. After seven days of trading artillery fire, Cambodian officials said military commanders in the field had reached a cease-fire agreement. Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, said Thursday that the agreement includes several elements, among them – allowing villagers along the border to return to their homes and reopening border crossings. The general says the ceasefire has started, and that the agreement includes having soldiers on both sides remain on stand-by on their bases. In addition, he says, it aims to encourage field commanders to build a relationship that helps them communicate if problems come up. But in Bangkok, Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd says any agreement made by field commanders must also be agreed to at the highest levels of each government before it is official. He says there has been no official announcement yet but that all Thai troops are currently within Thailand’s sovereign territory. The two neighbors have fought sporadically for two years over their poorly marked border. Both sides blame the other for starting the clashes this month. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in his role as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, negotiated a ceasefire between the two neighbors in February, the last time the two sides fought. After meeting Thursday with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Natalegawa says trust has broken down on both sides. “Basically the two sides must be saved from themselves, because we are now in this cycle of one says this, the other says that. Mutual recrimination and mutual accusation. Precisely the kind of a vicious circle that we have been trying to reverse,” Natalegawa said. He says news of the cease-fire, if true, is encouraging and that both sides must realize the only way to resolve this conflict is through diplomacy. “We need to rebuild trust, rebuild confidence,” Natalegawa explained. “But the simple question is, ‘What is the alternative? How far are they willing to go? How many more days of conflict? How many more people to be killed, to lose their lives?” The last cease-fire called for Indonesian observers along the border but the Thai military rejected that idea. Natalegawa says Thailand must allow observers to ensure peace. The conflict is the worst among ASEAN members in decades. The two countries have long disputed parts of their border, which is poorly marked, and sections of it have been littered with land mines since the Indochina war in the 1960s. Tensions rose in 2008 after Cambodia received United Nations World Heritage status for an ancient Hindu temple just on its side of the border. Thailand and Cambodia dispute control over some of the land around that temple and nationalists on both sides have urged their governments to take tough action against the other. It is not clear, however, what caused fighting to break out earlier this month.
Cambodia and Thailand moved closer to ending the fighting on their border with reports of a cease-fire agreement. Indonesian officials have worked to mediate in the dispute, which has left at least 15 people dead and forced thousands on both sides of the border to flee their homes.
After seven days of trading artillery fire, Cambodian officials said military commanders in the field had reached a cease-fire agreement.
Lieutenant General Chhum Socheat, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, said Thursday that the agreement includes several elements, among them – allowing villagers along the border to return to their homes and reopening border crossings.
The general says the ceasefire has started, and that the agreement includes having soldiers on both sides remain on stand-by on their bases. In addition, he says, it aims to encourage field commanders to build a relationship that helps them communicate if problems come up.
But in Bangkok, Thai Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd says any agreement made by field commanders must also be agreed to at the highest levels of each government before it is official.
He says there has been no official announcement yet but that all Thai troops are currently within Thailand’s sovereign territory.
The two neighbors have fought sporadically for two years over their poorly marked border. Both sides blame the other for starting the clashes this month.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, in his role as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, negotiated a ceasefire between the two neighbors in February, the last time the two sides fought. After meeting Thursday with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Natalegawa says trust has broken down on both sides.
“Basically the two sides must be saved from themselves, because we are now in this cycle of one says this, the other says that. Mutual recrimination and mutual accusation. Precisely the kind of a vicious circle that we have been trying to reverse,” Natalegawa said.
He says news of the cease-fire, if true, is encouraging and that both sides must realize the only way to resolve this conflict is through diplomacy.
“We need to rebuild trust, rebuild confidence,” Natalegawa explained. “But the simple question is, ‘What is the alternative? How far are they willing to go? How many more days of conflict? How many more people to be killed, to lose their lives?”
The last cease-fire called for Indonesian observers along the border but the Thai military rejected that idea. Natalegawa says Thailand must allow observers to ensure peace.
The conflict is the worst among ASEAN members in decades. The two countries have long disputed parts of their border, which is poorly marked, and sections of it have been littered with land mines since the Indochina war in the 1960s.
Tensions rose in 2008 after Cambodia received United Nations World Heritage status for an ancient Hindu temple just on its side of the border. Thailand and Cambodia dispute control over some of the land around that temple and nationalists on both sides have urged their governments to take tough action against the other. It is not clear, however, what caused fighting to break out earlier this month.
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Cambodia, Thai Commanders Reach Cease-Fire Agreement
Asean
Deadly Floods and Landslides Strike Indonesia and Thailand – Vietnam Plus
At least seven people were killed, two others were injured and some were likely to be missing after flash floods and landslides hit the Indonesian eastern province of Maluku on the morning of August 25, according to the locality’s disaster management and mitigation office.
Heavy rainfall, which began on August 24, has triggered the disasters in Ternate city. Many local residents are in urgent need of support, authorities said.
Soldiers, police, local search and rescue personnel, disaster management staff, and volunteers are all involved in the ongoing rescue efforts, which include evacuating those trapped by the landslides and recovering materials from homes swept away by the floods.
Meanwhile in Thailand, local authorities reported that the death toll from a landslide in the popular resort province of Phuket on August 23 has risen to 13, including a Russian couple.
Source : Floods, landslides kill many in Indonesia, Thailand – Vietnam Plus
Asean
Tug of War in Southeast Asia: Can ASEAN-China Dialogue Shift the Scales Toward Peace? – An Analysis
The ASEAN-China dialogue is vital for regional stability, addressing economic cooperation and security challenges, particularly in the South China Sea, amidst significant geopolitical complexities and ongoing territorial disputes.
ASEAN-China Dialogue: A Path Towards Cooperation
The ASEAN-China dialogue plays a pivotal role in Southeast Asia’s diplomacy, fostering economic collaboration while addressing security challenges. Despite advances, particularly in managing tensions in the South China Sea, significant barriers remain to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. ASEAN’s capacity to maintain its unity and centrality is crucial amidst complex power dynamics involving China and other global players.
Navigating Tensions and Economic Relations
A pressing concern within this dialogue is the South China Sea territorial disputes, which involve multiple ASEAN states and China. The militarization of the area raises alarm among regional stakeholders, necessitating urgent negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) to manage conflicts. Additionally, the growing economic interdependence fostered by initiatives like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) strengthens ASEAN-China ties, yet it also raises concerns about potential political leverage influencing member states’ autonomy.
The Challenge of Regional Stability
While the ASEAN-China dialogue offers a framework for promoting peace, its effectiveness is conditioned by broader geopolitical contexts, including China’s rivalry with the United States. The success of this dialogue rests on sustaining a commitment to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution. As ASEAN adapts to these complex dynamics, it must reinforce its unity and cooperative strategies, ensuring the region’s stability amid evolving challenges.
Source : Tug Of War In Southeast Asia: Will ASEAN-China Dialogue Tip The Balance Towards Peace? – Analysis
Asean
Cambodia Invites Business Leaders to Join the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning
Cambodia invites businesspeople to the 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, promoting trade and investment with incentives like hotel coupons and networking opportunities in various sectors.
Cambodia Invites Participation in CAEXPO 2024
Cambodia is actively encouraging business leaders, investors, and service providers to participate in the upcoming 21st China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), set to take place from September 24-28 in Nanning, China. According to a Ministry of Commerce announcement, CAEXPO serves as a vital platform for trade and investment collaborations between ASEAN nations and China.
To facilitate Cambodian participation, the Ministry invites interested individuals to apply as Trade Visitors by August 31, 2024. Participants will benefit from hotel coupons, dining vouchers, and shuttle services to the expo venue. Furthermore, attendees can engage in business matchmaking in sectors such as food processing, digital technology, and renewable energy products.
Kin Phea, from the Royal Academy of Cambodia, emphasized the advancements in China-ASEAN relations, particularly concerning economic cooperation, tourism, and cultural exchanges. He noted that both sides have become each other’s largest trading partners, enhancing collaboration through the Belt and Road initiative, focusing on infrastructure and sustainable development.
Source : Cambodia encourages businesspeople to partake in 21st China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning
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