Cambodia's Defense Minister has requested that Thailand relocate bilateral negotiations on the border dispute to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stating it is a safe and neutral venue.
An AFP report on Tuesday, 23 Dec 2023 GMT+7, stated that this request appeared in a letter from Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha to the Thai side, as both countries prepare to begin talks to set ceasefire conditions after intense fighting over the past two weeks.
Earlier, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew announced on Monday that talks with Cambodia would take place following his attendance at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where Cambodia is also an ASEAN member.
Sihasak said the discussions would be held on Wednesday in Chanthaburi province under the framework of the existing Joint Border Committee, while Cambodia sent a letter dated Monday to Thai Defense Minister General Natthaphol Nakwanich requesting the meeting be moved to Kuala Lumpur.
In the letter, Tea Seiha stated, "For security reasons due to ongoing fighting along the border, this meeting should be held in a safe and neutral location." He also noted that Malaysia, currently ASEAN chair, has agreed to host the talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Plangkoon revealed that the meeting venue "is still under discussion," adding the talks will last two days, beginning with technical working group meetings.
Meanwhile, the Thai Defense Minister sought to ease Cambodia's concerns about holding the talks in Thailand, confirming the meeting is scheduled for Chanthaburi province, an area "with almost no fighting" and deemed safe. He said the last Joint Border Committee meeting was held in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province, so this time it is Thailand’s turn, emphasizing that Thailand can separate military issues from diplomatic talks.
However, the Thai Defense Minister also stated that Thai forces will continue fighting as long as Cambodian forces do not cease hostilities. The clashes along the nearly continuous border have only partially subsided in two provinces.
Most recently, on Monday U.S. local time, former President Donald Trump mentioned the Thai-Cambodian conflict again, identifying it as one of the "eight wars" he claimed he could end.
He said Thailand is starting to move forward and restart efforts, adding that he believes the situation is beginning to stabilize and is moving toward a ceasefire.
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