“The US has used the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia to bargain with the government,” Siripong Angkasakulkiat, a spokesman for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, told reporters in Bangkok yesterday (Oct 14), reports the Bangkok Post.
Malaysia’s foreign minister said yesterday that President Donald Trump would attend the ceremonial signing of a Thailand-Cambodia peace agreement on Oct 26 at the ASEAN leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Washington’s stand is a fresh challenge for the new Thai negotiating team, endorsed by the Cabinet yesterday and led by Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, who is also the finance minister.
With the new US demand, reaching an agreement with Cambodia has become a priority for a government that is seeking to revive the sluggish economy before an election early next year.
Mr Ekniti, along with six other economic ministers, will replace the now-defunct “Team Thailand” of former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The US has imposed 19% tariffs on imports from Thailand, creating major problems for one of the country’s key growth engines. Further negotiations are needed to address issues such as trade circumvention.
Tensions over the disputed border erupted into military clashes between Thailand and Cambodia in July, but a fragile ceasefire was reached after Trump threatened to block trade deals with the countries unless they stopped fighting.
Cambodia subsequently nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the violence, and Trump last week wrote to Anutin urging Thailand to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Cambodia.
Four key conditions
In order to sign a peace deal, The Thai government has insisted that Cambodia must withdraw troops, remove landmines, crack down on cyber scam operations targeting Thai residents, and resettle Cambodian citizens encroaching on the Thai side of the border, Mr Siripong said.
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is due to visit Malaysia on Oct 17 ahead of the leaders’ summit, will reiterate the four demands in talks with Cambodia, according to Anutin.
Malaysia, in its capacity as this year’s ASEAN chair, and the US are looking to facilitate a wider ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia at the summit, according to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.
Malaysia hopes that both sides can fulfil the conditions, including landmine clearance and the withdrawal of weapons along the border, and sign a declaration during the summit, Mr Mohamad told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said earlier that Trump would attend the meetings but there has been no official confirmation yet from Washington.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a person familiar with the matter said the trip is being planned.
Mr Siripong told reporters that Bangkok was aware the United States was giving the dispute priority.
“But what Cambodia has to do first, before we accept the US offer, are our four points that we have raised,” he said.
Anutin also said Thailand was ready to negotiate if Cambodia withdrew heavy weapons, removed landmines, cracked down on scammers and relocated its citizens from border regions that Thailand considers its own.
Cambodia has said its nationals have lived in the disputed border villages for decades.
Anutin’s remarks came a day after he appeared to brush off a continued role for Trump - who has been chasing a Nobel Peace Prize - in any further negotiations between the two nations aimed at solving the border dispute.