China has moved decisively to position itself as a regional power broker, hosting top diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia as Beijing seeks a stronger mediating role in the two countries’ violent border dispute.
The trilateral talks were held in Yunnan province, deliberately close to the contested frontier, just days after Bangkok and Phnom Penh signed a new ceasefire to halt weeks of fighting that killed more than 100 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said progress was being made, stressing the need to sustain the ceasefire and rebuild trust. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said no side wants a return to war and called for the truce to be permanent.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged both sides to prevent renewed fighting, declaring that renewed conflict is not what their peoples—or China—want to see. State media said the three countries agreed to maintain dialogue, restore relations step by step, and prevent any reversal of the ceasefire.
Beijing also offered humanitarian aid for displaced civilians and pushed cooperation against cross-border crimes, including telecom and online scams.
The talks underscore China’s expanding diplomatic ambition in Asia, as it seeks to rival Western influence and position itself as a go-to mediator in regional crises—especially as tensions persist despite earlier US- and Malaysia-brokered ceasefires.
For Beijing, the message is clear: China is no longer just an economic power in Southeast Asia—it wants to shape the region’s peace and security architecture as well.
