China's adoption of Asian way shows commitment to resolving Thailand-Cambodia conflict

On December 22, the ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. After the meeting, a statement was issued urging Thailand and Cambodia to cease hostilities and mandating the Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee to convene on December 24, 2025, to discuss the implementation and verification of the ceasefire. At the same time, as a responsible major power in the region, China has engaged in Asian way mediation through foreign ministers' dialogues, trilateral high-level consultations, and the dispatch of special envoys to promote peace talks, ease tensions, and play a constructive role in rebuilding peace between Thailand and Cambodia. This further demonstrates China's sense of responsibility and commitment as a major country.

Since the end of May this year, Thailand and Cambodia have experienced several rounds of border conflicts, with the scale and losses of these conflicts continually setting new historical records. The current round of conflict, which erupted on December 7, has so far resulted in over 80 deaths and nearly one million displaced people. If the conflict continues to escalate, it could have serious negative spillover effects on regional peace and stability.

The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has deep-rooted causes. On one hand, it stems from unresolved historical issues left by Western colonialism, and on the other, from intertwined conflicts of contemporary interests. To fundamentally resolve this conflict, there seems to be no quick-fix solution. Instead, it requires adherence to the Asian approach of coexistence, adopting an Asian way to address the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict from a long-term perspective and promote lasting peace and stability in the region.

Both Thailand and Cambodia are ancient civilizations in Asia with rich histories. Each has created brilliant ancient civilizations, and both Thai and Cambodian civilizations have left a glorious mark on the history of Asian civilization. Over time, the Asian region has developed an Asian way characterized by mutual respect, consensus-building, and consideration for the comfort levels of all parties involved. This way holds practical significance for resolving differences or disputes among nations.

First, mutual respect means adhering to the principles of equality between large and small countries and non-interference in internal affairs when addressing differences or disputes. It is not about the strong bullying the weak, nor is it about the weak manipulating the strong. Instead, it involves mutual understanding, accommodation, and seeking common ground while reserving differences. China has dispatched a special envoy for Asian affairs four times to mediate between Thailand and Cambodia, consistently upholding the principle of mutual respect. On one hand, the envoy patiently and equally addresses the reasonable demands of both Thailand and Cambodia without taking sides. On the other hand, in the spirit of seeking common ground while reserving differences, the envoy urges both parties to focus on the greatest common denominator — peace — and reach a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible, ensuring its effective implementation.

Second, consultation and consensus is a core element of the Asian way, rooted in the Javanese village tradition and the ASEAN way. It refers to addressing differences or disputes through non-confrontational means, encouraging direct dialogue between the parties involved rather than resorting to international courts or external intervention. According to the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN plays a central role in ensuring regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity. China's mediation does not seek to start from scratch but respects ASEAN's central role. Instead, it focuses on reducing misunderstandings and differences between Thailand and Cambodia, creating a favorable atmosphere for direct negotiations, and fully leveraging ASEAN's central role.

Third, consideration for the comfort levels of all parties is the essence of the Asian approach of coexistence and a defining feature of the Asian way. It involves addressing differences or disputes through gradual, flexible, and pragmatic means, rather than resorting to external forceful intervention. It does not pursue a legally binding holistic solution of Western-style, but emphasizes patient dialogue, building mutual trust, and adopting flexible and pragmatic interim arrangements to manage differences and prevent conflicts from escalating. In the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, China has consistently maintained open communication channels with relevant departments in both countries, expressing concerns through various forms. By leveraging bilateral and multilateral channels, China has sustained dialogue and engagement, striving to keep the conflict within manageable limits and create conditions for its eventual resolution.

In summary, the Asian way does not seek quick-fix solutions but embraces a process of repeated consultations and gradual trust-building. It shares common principles and values with the Asian security model, which emphasizes shared security, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and dialogue and consultation, as well as with the core concepts and principles of the Global Security Initiative. As long as the Asian way is upheld in promoting Thailand-Cambodia peace talks, even if the negotiations experience multiple interruptions and restarts, both sides will keep the window for dialogue open, avoiding a complete breakdown and keeping hope for peace alive.

However, to fundamentally resolve the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, it is essential to balance development and security, using development to promote safety and security to safeguard development.

The author is a senior fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies in NIIS, CASS.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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